PSBJ July 2016

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July 2016

DELIVERING FOR DIVERSITY New Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre sets the benchmark for flexible facilities

Protecting heritage

Holistic regeneration

Noise control

The importance of tackling essential repairs as early as possible

Rydon reflects on the improvements set for Green Man Lane estate

How silent door systems can improve the patient healing process

Welcome Note Editor in Chief

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Steve Gull

steve@mixedmediainfo.com

Rebecca Stratten

ree@mixedmediainfo.com

Studio Manager Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com

Production

Jack Witcomb

AHR has recently completed the new £9m Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre in the heart of Levenshulme, Manchester. See page 32.

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

Artworker/Sub-editor David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com

Accounts

Simone Jones

simone@mixedmediainfo.com

Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Welcome to the July issue of PSBJ...

As the UK battles with its current housing crisis – slowed by the recent uncertainty over the EU referendum – critics are questioning the feasibility of the Government’s targets for house-building. Under the Housing and Planning Act, which recently received Royal Assent, the Government hopes to boost house-building by one million homes by 2020 – but what are the implications for social housing?

Pear Platt, Woodfalls Industrial Estate, Gravelly Way, Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA

In this month’s Legal & Business focus, Chris Coxon – Head of Marketing at Eurocell – asks whether the Government can really truly achieve its stated aim, and what are the negative consequences? According to some social landlords, the Act is a death knoll for community housing and housing associations fear house-builders will prioritise starter homes over their social housing allocation. To read more, turn to page 20.

T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020 www.mixedmediainfo.com www.psbj.co.uk

While many are concentrating on the quantity of new homes being built, it still seems there is plenty of activity in the refurb market. In our Housing focus on page 14, we unveil how one forward-thinking housing association is reaping the rewards for investing in innovative energy-efficient improvements, where previously tenants were forced to live in fuel poverty.

Publisher

Mixed Media Information

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The Publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

Elsewhere in this edition, we bring you the latest high profile case studies and talking points on Glass & Glazing, Swimming Pools, Flooring, Paints, Coatings & Finishes and Kitchens, Bathrooms & Washrooms. You will also find a dedicated focus on each of the four key areas of the public sector build market – Healthcare, Leisure, Housing and Education.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via PSBJ’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘PSBJ’ on Google play or the App Store.

Hannah Frackiewicz | Editor in Chief | hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

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Contents

06 News A round up of the latest industry updates including charity events, awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

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08 Upfront Rydon Construction is working, as developer and contractor, to regenerate the Green Man Lane estate in the London Borough of Ealing.

14 Housing Carrying out a complete internal and external upgrade of five blocks of flats, Weatherby showcases its latest refurb project Alder Green for Golden Gates Housing Trust.

16 Talking Point Michael Hartley, from Cassidy + Ashton, discusses the importance of addressing essential repairs in heritage buildings as early as possible.

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18 Technical Focus

22 Education

26 Healthcare

A new super school in Wales has selected REHAU underfloor heating to create a warm and comfortable environment.

AluK systems have helped future proof Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth, a new secondary school in Llanelli, South Wales.

In healthcare environments, noise control is integral to patient healing. Silent door systems and hardware can play a vital part in facilitating this.

20 Legal & Business

24 Glass & Glazing

28 Swimming Pools

Will the Housing and Planning Act really achieve its stated aim of increasing the amount of house-building in England?

The City of Sunderland’s new sculpture ‘Propellers of the City’ celebrates the industrial heritage of the area.

FT Leisure’s Dave Kay investigates how changes to Diving at Work Regulations 1997 L104 affect you and your commercial diving activities.

The all-new psbj.co.uk Your revitalised and purpose-built portal for public sector building specification PSBJ unveils the new-look online resource for building products designed for the public sector built environment.

Offering more content in an easy-to-navigate format, this refreshing, tailor-made new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

Search ‘psbj’

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www.psbj.co.uk

Contents

24

22 30 Flooring Tile supplier Solus Ceramics adds style to Sheffield University’s very own Diamond building with the use of its elegant Jurastone range.

32 26

32 Leisure

36 KBB

AHR has recently completed the new £9m Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre in the heart of Levenshulme, Manchester.

With the UK facing an unprecedented school building crisis, it is crucial that specified washroom products provide long-term value.

34 Paints, Coatings & Finishes

38 Product Showcase

Tony Walker at Johnstone’s Trade looks at the different elements specifiers should take into account when choosing a product.

A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help architects and local authorities make informed choices.

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Read the latest issue online Gain insight from industry experts Source products and suppliers Keep up to date with industry news Discover new innovative technologies Browse the archive of features and issues Manage your subscriptions Download the PSBJ app for your iPad, iPhone or Android

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Each month PSBJ rounds up the latest public sector construction updates, from new contracts to industry awards.

Greenways scheme gets top marks for M&E design A new community primary school has opened in Coventry as part of a significant regeneration programme following a mechanical and electrical design by building services consultancy, Greenways.

Designed by IDP Group, the new £5m Edgewick Community Primary School provides a contemporary learning environment for up to 420 pupils from nursery to year six, doubling the capacity of its previous building. Greenways has designed the mechanical and electrical services to meet the preferences of the school’s management team while optimising energy efficiency to reduce running costs in a scheme installed by Daly Engineering Services.

The LED lighting system includes a DALIbased, fully addressable control system, including daylight dimming, absence detection and independent switching for each room in the building. The reception and circulation areas also have timer controls to enable lighting to be permanently on during hours of occupation but switched off automatically at the end of the school day.

External lighting includes column mounted lights in the car park and wall mounted lighting on the external facades.

Power is supplied by two 800kW boilers along with a CHP (combined heat & power) unit with a 14.4kW thermal output and 5.5kW electrical output. The CHP contributes to the low pressure hot water feed for the heating system, which comprises ceiling panels in the classrooms and radiators in the offices.

Innovative joint venture is launched Arc Partnership, an innovative joint venture developed by Scape Group and Nottinghamshire County Council, has been launched with the aim of delivering efficient

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built environment projects across the Nottinghamshire region and the wider public sector.

The remit of Arc Partnership is property design, project management, planned and reactive maintenance services, with expertise spanning the entire public estate.

75% of the projects in the pipeline with Nottinghamshire County Council are school projects, which is where Arc Partnership will focus its efforts initially; however, in years two and three this will expand to support the wider public estate. Arc also plans to grow its geographical remit beyond Nottinghamshire to the East Midlands.

This is an exclusive 10-year service contract, with the potential for a five-year extension.

Over the first three years, projects totalling approximately £90m in value will be delivered through Arc, with £20m estimated for each of the remaining seven years – a total anticipated contract value of over £200m.

Morgan Sindall’s Forest School takes root Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall is working with students from Manchester Building College to provide Plymouth Grove Primary School pupils with a forest classroom to facilitate outdoor learning.

The forest classroom concept originated in the 1980s and has its roots in Scandinavia. The premise is to provide pupils with an interesting and hands-on interaction with the natural environment, teaching them about the role of trees in nature, the complex ecosystem supported by wilderness and recognition of specific plants and animals.

Tree cutoffs, tyres and playground bark have been donated by Tree Station, an East Manchester-based firm providing a unique and innovative green solution to wood waste for the Manchester area.

Additional materials including topsoil, paint, cable ties, screws and use of an excavator have all been generously provided free of charge by subcontractors involved in the Plymouth Grove Primary School build.

In addition to the Forest School, Morgan Sindall is also improving the school’s play area.

The existing play area is being expanded, with artificial grass and bark chippings being laid.

Recycled materials including electrical drums, drainage pipes and pallets will be used to create tables, tunnels and fencing to create a sustainable area, with the aim of encouraging active play.

Residents lay foundations for a career in construction Twenty Greenwich residents have laid the foundations for careers in construction after successfully completing the first stage of a Royal Borough training scheme.

Run by Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB), which is the council’s local labour initiative set up to help local people access training and jobs, the eight-week training scheme started at the beginning of the year. The programme is run in conjunction with six developers in the borough – Berkeley Homes, Lovell, Cardy, Ardmore, Durkan and Bouygues.

After pre-screening and initial assessments, the 20 successful candidates made it through the course which involved completing a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme to get a CSCS card and a Level 1 Multi-Trades qualification. They also had two weeks’ work experience on site and worked on a project to turn a container into a fully functioning classroom. In the final week of the programme GLLaB helped them improve their employability skills through mock interviews and CV writing.

After completing the course, the candidates had a number of interviews based on the trades they were interested in and were accepted to begin their apprenticeships at Bexley College and Greenwich Community College.

After the success of this programme, GLLaB will be running another programme in July 2016 with Willmott Dixon and Kier joining the growing list of developers interested in this scheme.

SpaceZero is preferred partner in country’s PSBP schools Interior architecture and specialist FFE (furniture, fixtures and equipment) consultancy, SpaceZero, has secured contracts working on 40% of the country’s private finance-funded Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) schools, and 27% of those that are Government funded.

Having recently bid on four out of five PF2 batches across the UK, SpaceZero secured contracts with two schemes – one in the North East region, and another in the North West. Out of the country’s 45 PSBP PF2 schools, SpaceZero has bid on, completed work with, or is currently working on 24 – more than any other interior architecture company in the country.

In December, Hylton Castle Primary School, Sunderland, became the first Government funded PSBP PF2 school to open its doors, welcoming students to transformed education environments, complete with furniture, fixtures and equipment specially designed to improve learning outcomes and inspire students for generations to come.

SpaceZero has also bid on, completed work with, or is currently working on 27% of the 208 PSBP1 capital batch schools in the UK. The most recent of the PSBP1 batches SpaceZero has secured is on the Isle of Wight – the last PSBP1 batch planned for construction in the UK.

The UK’s safest house-builders have been honoured for their outstanding dedication to health and safety as NHBC announced the winners of the first round of its annual Health and Safety Awards.

Now in its seventh year, the awards recognise site managers’ commitments to excellent health and safety practice on site. They credit and reward the very best in health and safety and also help to drive up safety standards in house-building by showcasing and sharing best practice.

A total of 61 site managers were awarded a Commended status for their sites and will now go on to compete for the Highly Commended, runners-up and national winners, which will be announced at a gala event on 8th July 2016. All of the competing sites were visited by NHBC Health and Safety advisors and scored to stringent standards.

According to the health and safety executive, there were 35 fatal injuries to workers in the construction sector in 2014/15, around 20% lower than the fiveyear average for 2010/11-2014/15; almost half of the fatal injury cases were caused by falls from height. Every casualty on site is unacceptable; however it is reassuring to see that house-builders across the UK continue to safeguard their colleagues, by placing health and safety practice high on their agenda, with the number of fatal injuries in construction substantially decreasing over the last 40 years.

For the full list of winners, please visit www.nhbc.co.uk/hsawards/

Civils framework success for Clugston North East Clugston Construction, part of the £140m privately owned group, has been awarded a place on the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) Civil Engineering Framework worth as much as £1.5bn over four years.

The framework, which will be delivered by the company’s North East office, will see Clugston Construction appointed for infrastructure works under £1m and over £5m, highways works between £1m and £5m and public realm works over £1m.

The framework win comes in a successful period for the North East office, who has also been selected for the North Yorkshire County Council Civils Framework which runs from May 2016 to April 2020.

Commenting on the success, Andy Mackintosh, Clugston Construction’s Regional Manager for the North East,

said: “We are delighted to have been awarded places on both the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) Civil Engineering Framework and North Yorkshire County Council Civils Framework. We have developed a strong presence in the North East and we hope these frameworks will add further value to our work in the region and beyond.”

News

NHBC honours UK’s safest house-builders

Scape Group celebrates its first 10 years Scape Group, the procurement specialist, has been helping the public sector create maximum economic and social value for local communities through its national and regional frameworks since April 2006.

The public sector owned organisation, which now operates six national frameworks with two under live procurement, has more than 500 clients in the public sector, which have used its expertise and partnerships with leading contractors and consultants for 2100 completed projects to date.

Scape is currently working with the public sector on 1400 live commissions which range from construction projects, infrastructure, facilities management, asset management surveying, design and project management and quantity surveying.

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, comments: "The public sector is under pressure to deliver facilities, infrastructure and services to cater for a rapidly growing population in a time of continued austerity, uncertainty and with diminishing resources. By facilitating ongoing collaboration between the public sector and our rigorously selected framework partners, we are proud to help public sector bodies achieve savings, meet efficiency targets and add socio-economic value to local communities through their assets, estate and infrastructure."

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Upfront

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REGENERATION Rydon Construction is working, as developer and contractor, to regenerate the Green Man Lane estate in the London Borough of Ealing. The project is being delivered in a 50:50 joint venture partnership with A2Dominion.

Rydon Construction – working with Ealing Council and A2Dominion – is involved in a £155m scheme to regenerate the main estate

Project: Green Man Lane estate Location: London Borough of Ealing Contractor: Rydon Construction

T

he existing local authority housing estate, comprising 464 flats, is being demolished to make way for 715 new homes, with a further 55 homes being delivered on the existing St John’s Primary School site. Over 400 homes will be provided for affordable rent and shared ownership for A2Dominion, and over 300 homes are being developed for open market sale.

The previous estate was built in the 1970s and has dated badly. Green Man Lane resident, Sarah Parker, says that “the old estate was very run-down and poorly designed”.

Local Councillor, Yoel Gordon, identifies “anti-social behaviour, overcrowding and poor quality housing” as problems that had to be addressed through the redevelopment of the estate.

St John’s Primary School

Rydon Construction is working, as developer and contractor, to regenerate the Green Man Lane estate

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Like all London boroughs, Ealing is facing growing demand for school places. Challenges in delivering this additional capacity include financial constraints, high building costs and a lack of available land.

Upfront Ealing Council selected Rydon and A2Dominion as the preferred developers for the Green Man Lane estate

An extensive process was undertaken to inform the design of homes for the residents. Fortnightly meetings were held to gather residents’ views. In April 2009, after a lengthy interview process, the partners were selected.

About Rydon Construction: Rydon Construction is a division of Rydon Group, which employs over 700 people across England.

Rydon has become one of the country’s leading regeneration developers and contractors, delivering awardwinning, community-focused projects within the London area.

It works in partnership with local authorities and registered providers to deliver sustainable, flexible and cost-effective housing, combining affordable rent, shared ownership, private rent and private sale tenures to create truly regenerated communities.

Rydon takes a holistic approach to developments. It specialises in using innovative cross-subsidy financing to deliver mixed-use public realm developments which include community facilities such as playgrounds, community centres, schools and health centres.

Current schemes in London include Green Man Lane (Ealing), Durand Close (Sutton), Bacton Low Rise (Camden) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Tower Hamlets).

Over 400 homes will be provided for affordable rent and shared ownership for A2Dominion

St John’s Primary School is located adjacent to the Green Man Lane estate. Built in the 1970s at a similar time to the estate, the popular and well-regarded local school had reached capacity and the building had reached the end of its lifespan. “The old school was inadequate in terms of its size, but also because of its poor quality with leaking roofs and so on,” adds Yoel Gordon.

Local resident Sarah Parker explains that the school has been “using portable cabins for years – it’s a really good school but the facilities are quite poor”.

The old school building will be replaced with a larger, modern, three-form entry school. The new building will provide places for 630 pupils, 210 more than the existing facility.

It will also include an expanded 100-place nursery and provision for 25 pupils from across the borough with speech and language difficulties.

A rooftop play area will be provided as part of the threestorey development.

It was not just the estate design that residents were consulted upon, however.

An extensive process was undertaken to inform the design of homes for the residents. Fortnightly meetings were held to gather residents’ views. 

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Upfront One of Rydon’s current schemes includes Bacton Low Rise, Camden

In April 2009, after a lengthy tender and interview process that included residents, Ealing Council selected Rydon and A2Dominion as the preferred developers for the Green Man Lane estate.

From the outset, Rydon and A2Dominion proposed that the redevelopment of the school should form part of the overall scheme.

“They saw the school being involved from the very beginning,” recalls Sarah Parker.

“Looking back now, it would be strange to redevelop everything else and leave the school there, it would look terrible.”

Peter Gaffikin, Ealing Council’s Housing and Regeneration Manager for the Green Man Lane estate, explains that the borough did not want to tie the regeneration of the estate to the redevelopment of the school “because if there

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was a delay to the school it would have held up the whole project. We didn’t want this housing scheme to be held to an education timetable”. This could have arisen in relation to the planning application or the overall funding of the scheme.

Therefore it was only in 2013, once the regeneration of the estate was well underway, that Rydon’s proposals to redevelop the school were revived.

Peter Gaffikin says: “Rydon suggested at a later stage that we resurrect their original plans, and we looked into whether it would be practical and feasible.”

After a period of consultation with residents and the local community, Ealing Council planners unanimously approved proposals to completely rebuild the school. It is being rebuilt on a new site, enabling the school building to remain fully open

throughout construction and for a smooth transition to the new premises for the 2017/18 academic year.

Funding for the new school is being provided by Ealing Council, subsidised by releasing the old school site to Rydon and A2Dominion for development, providing a further 55 new private sale homes, and 37 affordable homes which formed part of the original masterplan for the redevelopment.

This cross-subsidy model has made the scheme viable where it might not otherwise have been. Tom Rigby, Development Director at Rydon Construction, explains: “The release of land for housing is helping to fund the new St John’s Primary School, accommodating the growing and diverse needs of the local community, whilst providing good value for Ealing Council.”

Applying the Rydon model elsewhere

Ealing resident Sarah Parker speaks favourably of the innovative way that Rydon has been able to deliver not only additional housing but also local services. She comments: “Ealing doesn’t have enough primary schools, and density is going up across the area. But what about the schools, doctors and dentists that people need? It’s important for the Council to tie all of this together – people need to have services in their areas.”

Reflecting on the scheme, Ealing Council’s Peter Gaffikin stresses the importance of breaking down silos within local authorities. He says: “Once we got this together and had a working relationship with our education department we were able to look together at the potential for other land swaps 

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Upfront The new St John’s Primary School has been designed by Conran and Partners

in the borough to use land in a better way to deliver homes and additional school places.”

Ealing Councillor Yoel Gordon agrees that the cross-subsidy model could be applied more widely: “I think the realities of public sector funding mean that

it will absolutely be necessary.

It’s a win-win for everybody – the local authority and the local community.”

Rydon’s Development Director Tom Rigby says that this is a model that can be applied in other boroughs to “provide

The new building will provide places for 630 pupils, 210 more than the existing facility

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high-quality homes and deliver community facilities”.

He continues: “Local authorities will continue to face financial constraints in the years ahead. Demand for public services, including housing, education and healthcare,

will continue to rise in the meantime. In this environment it will be vital to look to innovative ways of funding local public services, including housebuilding.” 

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Housing

TRANSFORMING A COMMUNITY

A forward-thinking housing association is reaping the rewards for investing in innovative energy-efficient improvements.

housing market T hehasretrofit recently been strongly dictated by Government funding, with many planned regeneration schemes subsequently cancelled when cuts to Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding were announced in the 2013 autumn statement. This decision left thousands of aging social housing estates across the country with poorly insulated homes and many of their residents being forced to live in fuel poverty. Despite this, a housing association in the North West has self-funded a number of major refurbishment projects, with a focus on significantly upgrading its housing stock and bettering its tenants’ quality of life.

Managing over 8600 homes, Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) is the largest registered provider of social housing in Warrington, Cheshire. As part of its ongoing commitment to the living conditions of its tenants, the housing association undertook a detailed review of five threestorey blocks of flats in Alder Lane, scrutinising the integrity of their structural elements, energy efficiency, fuel usage and utility bills. It was quickly concluded that,

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in addition to the major structural and system repair work that was required, the majority of these tenants were in fact living in a state of fuel poverty and needed help.

The housing association made the decision to embark on a £1.8m project, referring to it as ‘Alder Green’, to improve the external condition of the flats and surrounding areas, reduce carbon emissions and offer tenants a better quality of life. The scope of the works included new windows and doors, new roofs, solar PV, external wall insulation, new heating systems, new ventilation systems, additional parking and communal area upgrades.

With so many changes to the properties being planned, it was vital to get tenant buy-in from the very outset and GGHT ensured tenants were consulted with and involved at every stage of the project. This included the hosting of public open evenings and individual home visits, where a host of topics were discussed, from offering energy-saving advice through to allowing residents to choose their own colour schemes. The housing association also continued its

tenant engagement programme once the work was complete, with follow-up visits offering on-going support with the newly-installed systems.

External wall insulation (EWI) was a crucial element of the scheme and not only offered the most significant energysavings, but also provided a complete transformation of the exterior of the buildings. Having previously experienced failed cavity wall insulation, the housing association needed to ensure that the thermal improvements would stand the test of time and so turned to EWI as the only guaranteed solution to reduce energy bills year on year.

The installation of EWI posed many challenges to both John McCall as the architects and Wetherby Building Systems as the system designers.

From a technical performance perspective, the walls provided very little by the way of thermal properties, with the area underneath the windows consisting of a single timber panel. This panel had to be subsequently reinforced with a single skin of brickwork, meaning the selected insulation system

Project: Alder Green Location: Warrington Housing Provider: Golden Gates Housing Trust

The housing association made the decision to embark on a £1.8m project, referring to it as ‘Alder Green’, to improve the external condition of the flats and surrounding areas

EWI not only offered the most significant energy-savings, but also provided a complete transformation of the exterior of the buildings

Housing needed to be applied to two different substrates to provide complete coverage of each elevation.

As a result, Wetherby’s BBA-approved EpsiWall system, incorporating EpsiTherm graphite enhanced EPS, was specified.

Using a thickness of just 80mm EpsiTherm insulation, the required U-values were achieved, resulting in the properties meeting current building regulations, with minimal disruption to the external envelope and footprint of the building.

In terms of the aesthetics, with the Alder Green development being situated along a major route into the town centre and directly adjacent to a new health and leisure complex, it was crucial that a visually appealing exterior was created. John McCall Architects set itself the task of producing an architecturally interesting facade that provided areas of contrasting colours, shades and materials to break up the mass of the buildings and alter the streetscape Wetherby’s 1.5mm K Silicone Render in bright white created a clean, modern canvas for the buildings, with elements of pastel green and blue render applied randomly to various elevations, as well as around windows that had been given a decorative raised profile. To complete the facade, areas of coloured Cedral Weatherboard cladding, in complementary tones, were applied to break up the design, providing interest and depth.

The appearance of robust brick was also a requirement on this

To complete the facade, areas of coloured Cedral Weatherboard cladding, in complementary tones, were applied to break up the design

It was crucial that a visually appealing exterior was created

development, but with bricks in short supply, and cost prohibitive, a mid-grey brick effect render was applied to the ground floor of each of the five blocks of flats.

A more cost-effective alternative, the brick effect render provided the look of genuine brick, while adding another dimension to the facade.

Commenting on the project, James Nicholls from John McCall Architects said: “This scheme, which lines a major gateway into Warrington, was designed to create a visual identity for the five housing blocks. The materials and colours were carefully chosen and play a really important part in giving the buildings a new lease of life due to their clean design creating a modern and attractive facade.”

In addition to the EWI system, a variety of unique energy-efficient solutions were installed in the flats. The most innovative part of the project was the ‘Smart

Share Solar System’, which will generate enough electricity to potentially save tenants £100 £150 a year alone. A solar battery storage system has also been fitted, using smart technology to divert electricity generated from the solar PV to power other areas of the building including the communal entry systems and lighting across the five buildings.

It is these developments that led to the project winning the ‘most innovative refurbishment project’ award at the national Housing Innovation Awards.

As part of the project, GGHT also organised a number of community initiatives in conjunction with the companies involved in the scheme.

Children from local primary schools; Beamont Community Primary School and St Anne’s Primary school, have visited the development to discuss health and safety on construction sites.

GGHT representatives also

attended Warrington Collegiate to speak to students about careers in construction and work experience opportunities were made available to them during the project.

The investment Golden Gates Housing Trust has made in Alder Green has delivered a more attractive development for the entire community, improved living conditions for its residents and created a more appealing housing estate for future potential tenants.

With the Government-funded, energy-efficiency schemes subject to continual changes and, with no clear plan for the near future looking likely, housing associations are urged to review their housing stock now and look to prioritise funding for the implementation of energysaving measures for their most thermally inefficient estates. 

 www.wbs-ltd.co.uk

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Talking Point

THE COST OF POSTPONING HERITAGE PROJECTS

Project-specific considerations must be factored into the design and specification, conservation goals and funding options

RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, Michael Hartley, from architectural, building surveying and planning practice, Cassidy + Ashton, discusses the importance of addressing essential repairs in heritage buildings as early as possible and advises on a best practice approach.

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he UK is fortunate to have a wealth of historic structures from such a broad range of periods. In the words of Bill Gates, however, ‘with great wealth, comes great responsibility’ and, when it comes to protecting and conserving heritage buildings, that responsibility can be both onerous and expensive.

Heritage at risk The sorry state of many heritage buildings resulted in English Heritage creating an ‘At Risk Register’ of properties for London in 1991, followed by the first national At Risk Register in 1998. The organisation may have changed its name to Historic England since then, but the issue of addressing the conservation challenges of our built environment heritage remains the same: less than 20 years after it was first established, there are now 5478 structures registered.

There are a further 2549 on the Buildings at Risk register for Scotland, while the Ulster

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Architectural Heritage Society considers almost 500 buildings in Northern Ireland to be at risk and Cadw estimates more than 250 of Wales’ 3000 listed properties.

While these figures include structures owned by local authorities, public bodies and churches, there are many that are privately owned and in some cases the conservation costs outweigh the monetary value of the property itself and are beyond the means of the person or organisation with a duty of care to protect the building’s future.

What’s more, the At Risk Register only includes properties that have been afforded listed status as a heritage building.

There are many more structures of historical or local interest that are not protected in this way and rely on a progressive approach from local authorities and conservation officers to treat them ‘as listed’ and support their conservation by encouraging repairs and respecting heritage goals when granting planning consents.

Finding funding For every scheme, from minor repairs to major redevelopments, there is a catalogue of projectspecific considerations that must be factored into the design and specification, conservation goals and funding options.

Funding is a starting point for most projects and, wherever possible, as many repair and conservation elements should be combined into a single scheme to maximise the value of the funding application and address as many issues with the building as possible, particularly if they are interlinked.

Grants are available from Historic England for listed buildings and, in some circumstances, the organisation can also help local authorities with the costs of using Urgent Works Notices and Repairs Notices to enforce the conservation of buildings at risk.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is a primary funding source for conservation projects throughout the UK, with dedicated grant

Michael Hartley A RIBA Accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, Michael is authorised by English Heritage to carry out grant-aided projects to listed buildings. His major clients include Blackburn Diocese, Liverpool Archdiocese and the Methodist Church.

Talking Point Heritage Lottery Funding always requires the scheme to be of public benefit and should therefore include visible improvements

programmes for places of worship from £10,000 to £250,000, including those that are not listed or are no longer used for worship, townscapes, projects of local interest and larger heritage schemes. It’s important to note, however, that Heritage Lottery Funding always requires the scheme to be of public benefit and should therefore include visible improvements and repairs to the building as well as engaging and opening it up to wider audiences.

Expert advice To maximise the chances of a successful Heritage Lottery funding bid it pays to ensure that the building has been thoroughly assessed prior to submission of the grant application. A RIBAaccredited Conservation Architect should be appointed as a first step to advise on the scope of works required and the level of funding to achieve the critical repair and conservation aims. Other professional accreditations are available to allow historic building conservation including the Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) and RICS surveyors.

An experienced architect with an understanding of heritage schemes will be able to advise on the relevant organisations that should be involved in assessing the building and creating the conservation plan. For example, Historic England should always be

consulted on a project involving repairs or modifications to a Grade I and II listed building (in England). The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) should be involved in Church of England conservation projects, while the Historic Churches Committee will advise on catholic church conservation projects. Some schemes may also benefit from input from relevant expert bodies, such as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the Georgian Society or the Victorian Society etc.

Part of the heritage architect’s role is to advise on the consents needed for a project. For example, minor like-for-like repairs to a listed building may not require planning permission, but may still need listed building consent.

Even small like-for-like repairs must be specified and delivered in a manner that reflects the methods used in the original construction, however. For example, it is not enough to respect the original materials when repointing a wall; the joint between the bricks or stone must match the original. As a result, it’s vital that both the architect and specialist contractors involved are experienced in conservation schemes and work with the relevant conservation officers or organisations to deliver a project that is in keeping with both original materials and historical construction techniques.

Defence against dereliction The complexities involved in conservation projects are perhaps amongst the reasons why so many are delayed until the need for repair reaches critical levels.

By seeking the right advice, however, it is possible to take a more proactive approach to anticipate and prevent further deterioration by addressing repairs and combining projects.

In many cases, it is even possible to extend the lifespan of a building by upgrading it, where the introduction of contemporary materials does not alter the aesthetics or contravene listed building consent. After all, tackling repairs and modifications to a heritage building may be a daunting prospect, but it’s nowhere near as disheartening as failing to protect the historic asset. 

 www.cassidyashton.co.uk

Many repair and conservation elements should be combined into a single scheme to maximise the value of the funding application

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Technical Focus

SUPER HEATING INSTALLATION

Project: Llandysul School Location: South Wales Local Authority: Ceredigion Council

The quality of REHAU’s PE-Xa pipework impressed the main contractors Willmott Dixon Construction

A new super school in Wales has selected REHAU underfloor heating to create a warm and comfortable environment for students and teachers alike.

R DIFFUSION PLATE SYSTEM Made from 0.7mm aluminium

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EHAU underfloor heating has been installed in the largest school ever built

by Ceredigion Council in South Wales. The energy efficient £30m Llandysul School features more than 11,000m² of REHAU pipework – 9200m² fitted using REHAU’s Tacker sheet system and 2000m² fitted using its diffusion plate system over a timber suspended floor.

The quality of REHAU’s PE-Xa pipework impressed the main contractors Willmott Dixon Construction along with the speed of installation carried out by specialist sub-contractors Amroc Heating Services.

The Tacker sheet system, which provides a fast and efficient way of fixing the underfloor heating pipework direct onto insulated sheets, has been used for all of the main parts of the building, while REHAU’s diffusion plates have been used for the sprung floor in the sports hall and dance studio.

Diffusion Plate System at a glance: The REHAU diffusion plate system is designed for timber joist floors. The system uses aluminium plates to diffuse the heat over the floor area.

Plates heat faster than screed systems resulting in quicker reaction times.

REHAU diffusion plates are made from 0.7mm aluminium. Aluminium has the excellent heat transmission properties required in a system like this and the thickness of the plate is designed to ensure that the plates will not bow or deform during use. The additional thickness also ensures that sufficient heat is transferred from the pipe to the floor.

REHAU Tacker System cross section

Technical Focus

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TYPICAL FLOOR STRUCTURE 1

4

KEY: 1

5

REHAU edge insulation

REHAU Tacker Staple placed at 400mm 2

6

2

3 Floor covering with max.

R-value of 0.15m2K/W

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75mm thick sand/cement screed 4

5 REHAU RAUTHERM Universal PE-Xa pipe 6 REHAU Tacker Sheet with laminated PE membrane and printed installation grid 7 Concrete floor slab with damp proof membrane

Benefits of Diffusion Plates: Suitable for second stories and battens Ideal for timber flooring No need for concrete pouring Fast response time Best option for renovations

The underfloor heating is integrated into a full BMS intelligent control system. A built in MODBus communication network enables easy connection into most Building Management Systems. The sophisticated control system offers a wireless option and a cooling function to optimise individual comfort.

REHAU’s PE-Xa is not the only pipework on the project though.

The high performance preinsulated RAUTHERMEX pipework has also been installed in five runs using 63, 90 and 125mm sizes to feed the flow and return for the heating, boosted chilled water and hot water system from a remote plant room, minimising the thermal losses.

Llandysul School is unusual in that it is a ‘through school’ educating more than 1000 pupils from the age of 3 to 19. It was designed by architects Powell Dobson, consultants were AECOM and the M&E contractors were Hurleys.  2000m2 of REHAU pipework was fitted using its diffusion plate system over a timber suspended floor

 www.rehau.uk

19

Legal & Business

‘ONE NATION’ HOUSING, APPARENTLY

Housing associations are concerned that house-builders will choose to prefer starter homes over their social housing allocation

Will the Housing and Planning Act really achieve its stated aim of increasing the amount of house-building in England? In the short term, the answer is probably not. Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell, elaborates.

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he Government hopes that the Housing and Planning Act, which received Royal Assent on May 13th, will boost housebuilding, with a goal of one million homes to be built by 2020. And there’s another aim too: in the words of a Government press release, the bill “marks the start of a national crusade to transform generation rent into generation buy”.

Opponents of the Act, which includes some architects and social landlords, see it as a potential death knoll for community housing. There’s doubt over whether ‘generation rent’ will genuinely benefit, and a feeling that the main benefactors may be developers and investors.

Before its publication, the House of Lords fought to make a number of amendments to the bill as proposed. However, with the recently introduced English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) rules that say only English MPs can vote on legislation pertaining to England only, the Government has been able to sweep past the proposed changes.

Perhaps the most contentious issue is that of starter homes.

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These are to be sold at a 20% to the market rate with a cap of £450,000 in London and £250,000 outside it. The fear is that this will not lead to more homes, just more homes for better-off buyers.

Housing associations are concerned that house-builders will choose to prefer starter homes over their social housing allocation. Developers can get a better return on investment from selling starter homes rather than selling a proportion of a development to a housing association.

Then there is the issue of owners selling starter homes on and making a nice 20% plus profit. The Government’s original proposals is to allow re-sale after five years: the House of Lords has suggested that this is not a long enough period, proposing up to 20 years.

The act itself does not set out the timescale saying only that starter homes are ‘subject to any restrictions on sales or letting specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State’. These regulations will be revealed in follow-on legislation to the bill,

but experts think it unlikely that the Government will extend that five-year period by many more years.

Another possible problem with starter homes is that they will not be affordable to the vast majority of people who need them. A recent survey by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and the Association for Public Sector Excellence (APSE) confirmed this: over 80% of local councils said that starter homes would not be affordable.

The other headline-grabbing issue is right to buy. Clearly aligned with the Government’s stated aim to turn renters to owners, right to buy does create some potential barriers to house-building as part of major regeneration schemes. Housebuilders have pointed out that the Government’s recently vaunted plans for wholesale regeneration of run-down estates will be made more complex and expensive than anticipated because up to one in three homes are privately owned thanks to previous right to buy schemes.

Proposed changes to the planning system have

Chris Coxon has been Head of Marketing at Eurocell plc for nine years. With a career in construction marketing spanning 20 years, he has trained at the Cranfield University School of Management and Vlerick Business School. been met more positively.

Modifications to local planning and neighbourhood planning could speed up the planning process, although these effects will take a while to feed through to homes on the ground.

Likewise, measures including the introduction of a local register of land, to include potential brownfield housing sites, and giving authorities the power to grant permission in principle could ease the way for some new housing developments.

However, in conclusion, there is concern that moves to stimulate house-building in one area may possibly just impair house-building in another. 

 www.eurocell.co.uk

ed ed! lifi is ua gn t q co Ge et re g &

The MCIAT Professional Assessment

– a new qualifying route What is the MCIAT Professional Assessment?

The MCIAT Professional Assessment is a flexible, rigorous, robust and quality assured qualifying process, based on performance and designed to recognise the diversity of Architectural Technology.

Candidates must provide an in-depth critical analysis clearly summarising their professional experience. This should be a reflective report and should refer to challenges and successes encountered whilst working on projects and how any issues were resolved.

Applicants should also undertake a self-evaluation highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in relation to their area(s) of practice.

The Professional Assessment process is based on four core competencies: • Designing • Managing • Practising • Developing (self)

Who can apply for the MCIAT Professional Assessment?

Any applicant working in or on, for example, academia, general practice, component design, refurbishment, small residential projects, large commercial projects etc within Architectural Technology, should be able to apply their own experience to the Professional Assessment process, but they must hold one of the following membership grades: ACIAT, TCIAT or profile candidate.

Each application will be assessed on its merit. However, each applicant will need to demonstrate a sufficient level of knowledge and understanding and professional competence/experience in relation to their sphere/s of practice and demonstrate to the Institute they can meet the expectations of a Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT.

How much does it cost?

To apply for the Professional Assessment, applicants are required to pay £300 for the assessment of the application and the Professional Assessment Interview.

For further information email our Membership Director, James Banks via james@ciat.org.uk or call us on +44(0)20 7278 2206

Education

ALUK HELPS FUTUREPROOF WELSH SCHOOL

Project: Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraetl Location: South Wales Client: Carmarthenshire County Council

The client, Carmarthenshire County Council, required all new build blocks to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ ratings

The Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme aims to deliver effective learning environments and develop best practice in school design. The scheme’s main target is to create a sustainable construction system of education buildings in Wales that meets national building standards and reduces the recurrent costs and carbon footprint.

Maes Y Gwendraeth, Y sgol a new secondary school in Llanelli, South Wales, received an investment of £18m from the programme for the development of education buildings to serve 1000 pupils. The client, Carmarthenshire County Council,

required all new build blocks to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ ratings as part of the project’s sustainability obligations.

AluK systems were specified for block 21 of the development which incorporates the school’s new design and technology

building, designed by Lawray Architects. The team of architects were looking for a slender selection of profiles that would complement the expanse of brickwork in the new building.

In total, approximately 340m2 of aluminium profiles was used,

AluK systems were specified for Block 21 of the development which incorporates the school’s new Design and Technology building

22

with 105m2 used in the AluK SL52 curtain walling system, 215m2 for the AluK top-hung 58BW window systems, as well as 20m2 in the AluK single GT55 TB door systems, all of which were installed throughout block 21.

The project is BIM compliant, necessitating the entire supply chain to deliver the required data. AluK was able to exceed project requirements as its standard BIM components are Level 2 compliant. Chris Evans, Associate at Lawray Architects, comments: “To meet the BIM Level 1 requirements stipulated in the client's brief, AluK provided the relevant information which included 3D modelling, clash detection and some intelligence in the model for key elements such as finishes and fittings.”

In addition to BIM compliance, safety was a top priority when it came to product specification, with Secured

by Design (SBD) accreditation required throughout. Initially, the team at Lawray were unable to find a double door with test data available to meet SBD requirements. However,

Education the manufacturer was able to provide the required data by carrying out general testing at its South Wales Research and Development (R&D) facility specifically in regards to the 20N opening force of the door, as required under Building Regulations: Part M, whilst incorporating a thermally broken profile.

The technical team at AluK was also able to provide detailed calculations based on glass specifications that verified compliance with key design criteria of Building Regulations: Part L. To demonstrate further compliance, the team

To meet the BIM Level 1 requirements stipulated in the client's brief, AluK provided the relevant information which included 3D modelling

also provided Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) calculations. Chris Evans adds: “We were provided with a project U-value report along with information on AluK’s BREEAM ratings at an early stage which ensured the building criteria was met.”

Further collaboration led to AluK providing additional support in the installation of a bespoke solar shading system. Jordan Kingman, Architectural Project Manager AluK, explains: “Although AluK do not manufacture a brise soleil system, our team was able to supply Lawray Architects with

the necessary information relating to the fixing details and the different options available.”

The block 21 phase of the project was completed in May 2015 with the overall development completed in April 2016. 

 www.aluk.co.uk

ALUK PRODUCTS USED: SL52 curtain walling system – The SL52 curtain walling system is a flexible capped solution designed to offer high-performance. The flexibility of the SL52 design enables specifiers to create impressive facades that not only enhance the aesthetics of a building, but also provide the specific functionality and performance required to meet and exceed current standards. The SL52 curtain walling system is available with fully integrated vent options including POV, tilt and turn, top hung, side hung and fixed light.

58BW window system – The 58BW window system offers a cost-effective, high-performance solution in a wide range of configurations and formats to suit your building design. Certified under the Secured by Design scheme, its unique polyamide thermal break design improves thermal performance. Available in single or dual colour option, polyester powder coating and anodised finishes.

GT55 TB door system – The GT55 TB door system provides the ultimate combination of security and performance. The system is ideal for a range of heavyduty commercial and public sector applications including offices, hospitals, schools, warehousing and other industrial applications.

The GT55 TB is one of the most robust thermally broken commercial door systems available on the market. The system has been fully tested and can be integrated with AluK’s GT55 ground floor treatment system and has recently completed a rigorous testing regime to PAS24. This robust and low-maintenance door provides complete flexibility in entrance solutions and is available in a wide range of colours and finishes to suit any project.

In total, approximately 340m2 of aluminium profiles was used

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Glass & Glazing

A PROPELLER OF THE COMMUNITY

Project: Propellers of the City Location: Sunderland Sculptor: Chris Brammall

Those passing through the city can benefit from the new development and the lynch-pin propeller sculpture

When a redeveloped area calls for a distinctive structure that holds both artistic and historic significance, producing such a piece is no easy task. of Sunderland’s T henewCitysculpture, ‘Propellers of the City’, celebrates the industrial heritage of the area, paying homage to its history of shipbuilding. The unique design is winning praise from engineers and art critics alike for both its impressive appearance and ingenious interactive feature.

While the new ‘Keel Square’ development had been an ongoing project for a number of years, the site needed a distinguishing feature that would not only serve to christen the area as a new public space, but also potentially attract visitors to the city. The all-important finishing touches rested solely on the completion of this impressive propeller sculpture, and so experts were drafted in to

24

ensure the project was completed efficiently and to the required standard.

Chris Brammall, an esteemed Sculptor and Artist, was contracted to design the piece.

Chris already boasted a portfolio of impressive and unusual architectural work, so his track record of original and attractive builds naturally made him the ideal candidate for this type of project. After liaising with the local authority and town planners, Chris produced the plans for a work that would be not only a visually emotive attraction, but a fully interactive project that captured the imagination of children and adults alike.

In terms of the sculpture’s design, direct reference is made to the individuals who fuelled

The propeller can be rotated via a hand wheel that sits in front of it, much like a ship’s helm

Glass & Glazing

the shipbuilding industry of yesteryear. The glass panel includes tiny photographs of 500 Sunderland residents who worked as labourers in the shipyards and the many associated industries. These photographs were secured as a result of a large community project by the Donnison School-funded group, Living History North East, with volunteers submitting images of their ancestors; these are now immortalised in the Keel Square propeller sculpture, celebrating their memory and their contribution to the development of the city. Printing these photographs onto the glass was by no means an easy task however, as these were very old photographs that weren’t necessarily of a high quality.

Of course, the functionality of the sculpture is just as impressive as its visual design. The propeller can be rotated via a hand wheel that sits in front of it, much like a ship’s helm. With the photographs being positioned in a circular arrangement to match the sculpture’s shape, this allows the pictures and the propeller to be viewed from different angles.

A design of this type would need robust, industrial-strength glass that would be sturdy enough to stand the test of time in a vibrant city centre, with its regular foot traffic and hustle and bustle.

Commercial glass specialist Romag was drafted in by Brammall to oversee the designing, manufacturing, and fitting of three unique pieces of glass. These large glass pieces would join together seamlessly to achieve the essential propellereffect of the sculpture. Romag was chosen as it has a history of aiding in the design, production, and fitting of large glass panels and structures. Romag’s portfolio includes everything from work on animal enclosures in zoos, to the huge roof of King's Cross Station in London.

Sunderland City Council Leader Paul Watson is delighted with the sculpture and hopes it can be enjoyed by the people of Sunderland, young and old, for years to come. “It’s great to see people already enjoying the square,” said Watson. “This event will welcome the families of those featured in the propeller, those who helped design and build the square, and of course Sunderland

The glass panel includes tiny photographs of 500 Sunderland residents who worked as labourers

residents who are keen to find out more about our heritage and enjoy a great day out.”

The ambitious but wellmanaged project has already been a huge success, especially with development generally still ongoing in that area of the city.

Keel Square is visible from the city’s main thoroughfare, meaning even those passing through the city can benefit from the new development and the lynch-pin propeller sculpture.

It is no surprise to see that Keel Square has already been nominated for a number of design awards, including the Northern Design Awards, where the space has been lauded for the sculpture as well as the surrounding atmospheric lighting and water features. What’s more, the public space is already being put to good use by the people of Sunderland; the site has been used to host a winter-themed frost village and the exciting Chinese New Year celebrations.

While the people of Sunderland can enjoy the ‘Propellers of the City’ sculpture for its artistic and historic value, engineers can admire it for its incredibly sophisticated construction and functionality.

The project is, by all accounts, a resounding success. 

 www.romag.co.uk

Romag was drafted in to oversee the designing, manufacturing, and fitting of three unique pieces of glass

25

Healthcare

HOW TO CONTROL NOISE IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Noise in healthcare facilities and hospitals needs to be kept to a minimum, as it can have a negative impact on all people using these buildings, whether it be staff, patients or visitors.

R

It’s important to invest in a good quality lock that’s latch has a silent smooth action

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ecent research into noise in hospitals has shown that irritating noise pollution can actually delay the healing time of patients, and staff can be easily distracted by noise, so those responsible for safety in these sorts of buildings need to ensure that they are doing all they can to keep noise levels down.

Anything from a TV too loud to a steel bowl being dropped can cause uncomfortable noise for building users. A major problem is that these sorts of buildings tend to have reflective surfaces with long reverberation times, instead of surfaces that are capable of absorbing the sound.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has guidelines on the level of noise

Doors that firmly shut in the event of fire or a fire alarm actuation are a necessity

in hospitals that should be adhered to, ensuring the most comfortable environment for all who use the building.

Door hardware and noise A contributor to noise in facilities can be loud door hardware products. Push pads or electric latches can produce a lot of disruptive noise, especially throughout the night when patients are trying to sleep.

When considering reducing the level of noise in a healthcare facility or hospital, think about door hardware, and whether there are any replacements that could be made.

Push pads and latches Doors that use push pads or latches for access can be noisy. A Briton exit device with pullman latches is designed specifically for doors with high levels of traffic such as

Lockcases Cheap or poor quality lockcases can cause noise when doors close as the latch bangs against the strike plate. To alleviate this problem, it’s important to invest in a good quality lock that’s latch has a silent smooth action, and doesn’t need a large closing force from the door closer to overcome the latch action, and therefore slamming the door to ensure it closes for fire safety.

Door closers

Healthcare

fire exit doors that are also used as access doors and interconnecting doors. These latches provide a smooth and quiet alternative to a traditional panic bolt.

Hospital and care home staff need to move around facilities quickly and easily. Door closers that enable easy, fast movement around a building, but also ensure doors are firmly shut in the event of fire or a fire alarm actuation, are a necessity.

Hold open door closers can be noisy when a door is required to be closed for privacy or during sleeping hours. Free swinging door closers tend to be a better solution as the door can be shut quietly or left held open at any angle as the situation dictates. However, closing the door completely doesn’t mean releasing it from the sometimes noisy electro-magnetic

Noise in healthcare facilities and hospitals can have a negative impact on all people using these buildings

mechanism.

These types of door closers are suitable for rooms in hospitals and care facilities as they negate the need for any force to open the door. In fact, the door appears to have no closer on it at all as closing the door is a silent process.

Acoustic door seals

A Briton exit device with pullman latches is designed specifically for doors with high levels of traffic

Having gaps around a door is important so the door can open and close effectively.

Unfortunately, these gaps allow noise to travel through.

Acoustic door seals can be used in these gaps to absorb all this noise, but are well-designed so they still allow the door to be used properly.

A wide range of surface and morticed seals are available to suit almost any requirement and can also include bottom seals that automatically seal the threshold

of the door when it’s in the closed position, but lift up automatically when the door is opened.

It’s really important to remember that with any door closers you have the correct specification to ensure that both internal and external doors are not slamming and that they have variable power settings to adjust to the building’s users.

At Allegion, the company has a wide range of products that are suitable for noise reduction in these facilities – whether it’s a full door specification and solution, or just a fit of a replacement door closer.

Allegion’s Try Me Product Programme gives end users, particularly facilities managers, the chance to try a door closer for free, before committing to fitting them throughout the building. 

 www.allegion.com/uk

27

Swimming Pools

DIVING COMPLIANCE

In 2014, the Commercial diving projects inland/inshore, Diving at Work Regulations 1997 L104 (Second edition), was published marking a change in the regulations that rule commercial diving activities. Here, FT Leisure Sales Estimator, Dave Kay, investigates how these changes affect you and your commercial diving activities. published in 2008, the F irst HSE Commercial diving projects inland/inshore, Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (L104), set out the rules for the best practice for commercial divers.

The updated second edition of these regulations have forced big changes in the commercial diving market forcing contractors to increase the number of operatives they have trained to sufficient levels to enable them to continue with their day-to-day activities.

The Diving Regulations cover all diving projects in Great Britain within the UK and list all the regulations that apply to the commercial diving market. Along with each regulation are the guidance notes that explain how and to whom each regulation applies. The hierarchy of an appointed diving contractor, establishing a diving project plan and setting out the duties of the diving contractor to ensure that the diving project plan is adhered to remains largely the same from first to second edition. The changes occur when we look at size of the dive team required.

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The use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) may be acceptable for simple tasks such as visual inspection where there is no risk of entrapment, but that is all. The minimum team size normally required to conduct a SCUBA dive safely within this scope of the code is four – a supervisor, a working diver, a standby diver and a tender for the working diver.

This is an increase in personnel required by one from the 1st edition. All other diving activities are to use surface supply equipment.

The minimum team size normally required to conduct a surface-supply dive safely within the scope of this code is five, this is an increase of one from the first edition. The team will comprise of the following personnel, a supervisor, a working diver, a standby diver, a tender for the working diver and a tender for the standby diver. Additional personnel may be required to operate or maintain specialised plant.

In benign conditions in a swimming pool where there is no risk of entrapment and where the diver is in full view of the supporting dive team from the surface at all times, the standby diver may be dispensed. This would mean a reduction in the dive team required to three, a supervisor, a diver on a lifeline and a third person on the surface.

These changes have seen commercial diving contractors,

The Diving Regulations cover all diving projects in Great Britain within the UK and list all the regulations that apply to the commercial diving market

such as FT Leisure, investing heavily in the training and development of all their in-house diving teams, in order to meet the new ACOP. Their divers are certified for surface-supply procedures, which is essential for moveable floor and boom servicing. FT Leisure has also equipped their teams with the surface-supply equipment and even enhanced their commercial diving vehicles. They are now fully compliant with the regulations and continue to provide the most reliable diving services to the swimming pool industry. 

î˜ą www.ftleisure.co.uk

These changes to regulations have seen commercial diving contractors, such as FT Leisure, investing heavily in the training and development of all their in-house diving teams

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

THE DIAMOND IS FOREVER

Project: The Diamond building Location: Sheffield Architect: Twelve Architects

At the heart of the building in the central atrium, sit floor tiles from Solus Ceramics’ Jurastone range

Leading tile supplier Solus Ceramics adds style to Sheffield University’s very own Diamond building with the use of its elegant Jurastone range. after its unique N amed appearance, The Diamond building is the new home for undergraduate engineering students at The University of Sheffield, providing world-class facilities for students and academics.

The impressive 19,500m2 building, designed by Twelve Architects and constructed by Balfour Beatty, is the largest capital investment in teaching and learning ever undertaken by

the university. Boasting specialist engineering laboratories, lecture theatres, large-scale flexible teaching spaces, workshops, and a learning resource centre, the Diamond building is a fantastic addition to the university campus.

At the heart of the building in the central atrium, sit floor tiles from Solus Ceramics’ Jurastone range, boasting a charming asymmetrical aesthetic complementing the curved steel pods of the atrium.

Jurastone is populated with a multitude of tonal variations with subtle swirls

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Mimicking the elegance of natural stone, Jurastone is populated with a multitude of tonal variations with subtle swirls. When fitted across a large area, the tiles showcase individualistic features that work in harmony to create a captivating ambience.

Hannah Baker, Project Architect at Twelve Architects, said of the project: “The external appearance addresses the client’s desire for a landmark building. The anodized aluminum and triple glazed facade draws inspiration from the detailing of the surrounding historic buildings, making reference to ‘cellular automation’, a discrete model studied in engineering and used by the university to describe how the microstructure of steel changes during processing.

“Part of the brief was to develop a solution that symbolises a progressive approach to sustainable building design. The building is used as a teaching tool, allowing close monitoring, recording and an understanding of its energy usage.

“Internally, a public route at ground floor level accesses the first floor main central

atrium, where Jurastone is used, enabling people to view the showcase engineering activities being undertaken.

“We selected Solus Ceramics’ Jurastone tiles from the Natural range not only for its aesthetic qualities, but because it met the client's needs of the industry standard M40 specification, with its non-slip and durable qualities.

The matt finish complements the full-height glazing that maximises internal views whilst rooflights flood the interior with daylight, allowing natural light to penetrate throughout the atrium whilst creating acoustic separation.”

Pete Toule, Area Sales Manager at Solus Ceramics, said: “The Diamond was a fantastic project to work on, making an architectural statement within both the educational sector and the region.

“The characteristics of Jurastone makes the range a great choice for large public areas like the Diamond, creating a solid foundation that presents great impact without detracting away from the stunning architecture.” 

 www.solusceramics.com

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Leisure

CENTRE CATERS TO DIVERSE COMMUNITY AHR has recently completed the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre in the heart of Levenshulme, Manchester. The 2438m2 centre provides visitors with an array of new facilities, aimed at catering to a diverse community.

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he £9m centre provides visitors with a range of new facilities including a 220m2 neighbourhood library – the only one in the area, two swimming pools and a health and fitness suite.

AHR designed the centre to

cater specifically to the diverse community of Levenshulme.

One of the design features that helps achieve this is having a private-user pool that can be separated from the main pool by a glazed partition, allowing it to be used for specific needs

An important part of the design brief was that the centre is highly visible from the busy Stockport Road

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such as women-only events for particular ethnic and religious groups.

AHR designed the centre for both the local community and for groups from across Manchester where privacy is of a particular concern.

Project: Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre Location: Levenshulme, Manchester Architect: AHR

The aim was to design an outwardfacing and open facility that meets the specific needs of the local community

To facilitate this, both pools are capable of operating independently.

In normal operation the pools are visually open to each other with a single changing village, whilst in dual mode the changing village is subdivided and the pools screened off from each other. This allows open public and private-user groups to use the building simultaneously, maximising efficiency and building usage.

The library is open for the same hours as the leisure centre, through the introduction of a joint reception and offers free access to Wi-Fi and 20 public PCs. It provides the local community with an adaptable facility that uses modular shelving to ensure flexibility in the space and enables the local authority to deliver a range of services, including children’s activities. There is also a staff information point, study area, two self-service issue/return terminals and office and meeting facilities.

Leisure AHR designed the centre to cater specifically to the diverse community of Levenshulme

First floor facilities include a 264m2 health and fitness suite, equipped with 60 stations, and an adjoining 100m2 studio that can hold community meetings and serve as a dance studio for 30 people.

Dan Barnes, Regional Director at AHR, said: “Our aim was to design an outward-facing and open facility that meets the specific needs of the local community and in turn encourages people who might not otherwise have used the leisure or library services to engage.

The Arcadia Centre is proving extremely popular with local residents. We hope that it will prove to be a valuable community asset for years to come.”

An important part of the design brief was that the centre is highly visible from the busy Stockport Road. AHR achieved this by locating the library at the front of the ground floor and the fitness suite on the first floor facing the main road, maintaining high visibility with extensive glazing. A series of double height glass feature panels provide contrast to the neutral brickwork and glazing to further animate the facade and wrap into a covered recessed space, marking the entrance.

The building is primarily clad in traditional brickwork in keeping with the local context and references the predominant slate roofs across Levenshulme.

AHR has an impressive track record in designing leisure facilities that cater to the needs of diverse local communities and encourage people, even those who have never previously used their local facilities, to participate and be more active.

To date, along with Arcadia Leisure Centre, AHR has delivered East Manchester, Huddersfield and Hough End centres with Fleming Park Leisure Centre having recently started work on site. AHR has also completed Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP). This project provides state-of-the-art facilities for elite athletes to drive ground-breaking research and education programmes with a global relevance. With all the projects, whether aimed at the local community or elite athletes, AHR has applied the principles of inclusion, flexibility and accessibility to design buildings that are ideally suited to their unique users.

All the completed leisure centres have been well-received by both the local communities

In dual mode the changing village is subdivided and the pools screened off from each other

and the local authorities, with centres seeing record attendance levels and increasing numbers of new members signing up; Huddersfield Leisure Centre had 165,000 visitors in the first two months of being open and1700 members signed up on the launch of Hough End. Public swimming lessons at Hough End are also at capacity with over 600 school swimmers registered.

Dominic Manfredi, Director at AHR, said: “We design sport and wellbeing environments to be inclusive spaces for everyone. From kids taking their first swimming lessons to elite athletes on the road to Rio, the availability of quality facilities is really important. We are proud to help people enjoy sport and keep active.” 

 www.ahr-global.com

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Paints, Coatings & Finishes

Durable coatings can be up to 10 times tougher than traditional matts

withstand over 10,000 scrubs, meaning spaces stay looking better for longer.

Maintenance cycles

THE IMPORTANCE OF DURABLE COATINGS

When specifying coatings for public sector buildings, one of the most important considerations is the durability of a product. Tony Walker, Technical Manager – Specification, at paint manufacturer Johnstone’s Trade, looks at the different elements specifiers should take into account when choosing a product.

so many different W ithproducts on the market, each with their own USPs, it’s often difficult to know where to begin when specifying a coating for a public space. By their very nature, buildings of this kind are used frequently and have specialist requirements that mean

products must offer more than a standard matt. But exactly what specifiers should be looking for in a product depends on the space at hand and how it will be used.

Durable coatings For areas such as corridors or classrooms, where walls will

be subject to more knocks and scrapes than your average room, products that offer extra durability should be chosen.

Developed specifically to meet the needs of high traffic areas, durable coatings can be up to 10 times tougher than traditional matts, and can

Specifiers should also think about how often a space will need to be redecorated, especially when working in schools or hospitals, where the opportunities to touch-up the paintwork will be few and far between. By using premium products that have been specially developed to help to extend maintenance cycles, such as Johnstone’s Trade’s Endura Super Durable Matt, specifiers can ensure coatings last longer and any associated downtime is kept to a minimum.

Specialist products Specialist products, such as stain resistant coatings, should be considered for buildings such as schools and hospitals, where it is important that spills and day-to-day stains can be easily wiped away.

Johnstone’s Trade’s innovative new matt, for example, features cleanable and stain-resisting properties and incorporates unique technology that helps prevent stains from setting into the film, enabling easier removal of unwanted marks.

The coating, which is in its final testing phase prior to launch, was exclusively showcased at Clerkenwell Design Week 2016 and put to the test against everyday household items such as coffee, pen, red wine and lipstick.

Time and again it wiped clean with little effort, even when stains had dried on, proving it’s the perfect solution for classrooms, hospitals and office environments.

The big picture

Specialist products should be considered for buildings such as schools and hospitals, where it is important that spills and day-to-day stains can be easily wiped away

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By considering how a building will be used during the design process, and choosing products that meet the need of each individual space, specifiers can ensure their designs are preserved for longer, while also supporting the end user in extending maintenance cycles. 

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Kitchens,Bathrooms &Washrooms

UPHOLDING WASHROOM STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS

It is crucial that specified products provide long-term value, high quality and durability

Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) highlights the importance of the quality of school toilets, which have an undeniable impact on pupils’ health, education and happiness.

T

he Bog Standard, an ERIC campaign launched in 2004 to address a serious gap in legislation, found out that a quarter of children in England’s schools avoid using the toilets because they are ‘dirty, old and smelly’. The campaign initially came to life as school children did not have the right by law to decent toilet facilities, while adults’ facilities were sufficiently protected. But as so-called toilet avoidance caused by unsanitary washrooms can result in chronic constipation, incontinence and urinary infections, a clean and appropriate washroom should be high on a school’s agenda. But are standards upheld to avoid any negative consequences caused by inadequate toilet facilities?

According to the newest RIBA report, too many school buildings are poorly built. The Education Funding Agency

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(EFA) has adopted a rigid one-size-fits-all approach, leading to millions of pounds being wasted on expensive and unnecessary equipment.

After being newly built, schools are left with having to adapt to their pupil's needs, including the enlargement of washroom facilities, which local authorities are paying for. And it could get worse if all schools become academies by 2022, as there is a real ‘danger that central control would drown out individual circumstances in the debate about school environments’.

With the UK facing an unprecedented school building crisis, it is crucial that specified products provide long-term value, high quality and durability. These products need to be able to cater for agespecific requirements in terms of aesthetics and functionality, and help towards low running and maintenance costs.

The durability of laminate offers a long-term solution, making it a sustainable and cost-effective option for schools

Material To reduce the frequency with which school washrooms need to be refurbished, the Priority School Building Programme’s Services Output Specification 2013 recommends the specification of compact grade laminate (CGL) for cubicles and

wall panel systems. CGL is a versatile, robust and practical material that provides creative design options and stands up to humidity. A good alternative to CGL is High Pressure Laminate (HPL) as it is equally durable, impact, staining and scratching resistant, as well as possessing dimensional stability at elevated temperatures.

As required in a washroom environment, both materials are water-resistant and extremely hygienic because of their ability to withstand high temperatures when for example steam cleaning or using detergents to get rid of any bacteria. The durability of laminate offers a long-term solution, making it a sustainable and cost-effective option for schools. 

Kitchens,Bathrooms &Washrooms

sheets of laminate can be installed, with the added bonus of increased privacy.

Furthermore, the selection of colour and finish in terms of the LRV (light reflectance value) for sufficient visual contrast is another aspect to take into consideration for special needs facilities. This ensures visually impaired people can easily distinguish between different areas of the washroom, such as door frames to walls and sanitary fittings to walls, by virtue of the difference in light reflecting from the surface.

 www.eric.org.uk  www.formica.com

In primary schools, washrooms need to strike a balance between privacy and adult supervision

No one-size-fits-all In primary schools, washrooms need to strike a balance between privacy and adult supervision. A variety of cubicle door heights is advised, as well as appealing, colourful designs and customised images encapsulated in laminate.

Bespoke furniture, feature wallcoverings, cubicles, door skins, signage and much more can be designed ageappropriate. Generally, bold designs and colours are more likely to encourage the respect and wellbeing of the users.

Very often schools would choose the colours of the school logo for the cubicles.

In secondary schools, more privacy is required, which can encourage anti-social behaviour to occur as pupils are left unsupervised. Phil Wise, European Category Manager – Commercial Products at Formica Group,

explains: “Older pupils can feel vulnerable inside school washrooms. We have noticed that specifiers and fabricators have increasingly taken to installing floor-to-ceiling cubicles. While this is not the standard in open-plan washrooms yet, it certainly has gathered pace, especially as it also helps to avoid pupils passing objects such as mobile phones with a camera under or over the door or partition.”

However, other areas of the washroom should be as open as possible to facilitate unobtrusive adult supervision to further help to reduce any form of bullying.

Another important aspect for washroom design is its compliance with the Discrimination Disability Act (DDA). To adhere to the DDA, a 450mm gap between an inswinging door and the toilet pan is required. To create spacious, longer cubicles, large

Bold designs and colours are more likely to encourage the respect and wellbeing of the users

37

HVAC/HVP

Myson’s newest Low Surface Temperature radiator is the narrowest panel LST model available on the UK market

NARROWING THE OPTIONS ON LSTS Kelly Smith, Product Manager for Myson, explains why it’s good news that the company’s latest Low Surface Temperature (LST) model is the narrowest model on UK market.

I

n many care settings, much wall space is taken up with beds and special equipment, so the advent of a narrow LST model is good news for the market.

Myson’s newest Low Surface Temperature radiator is the narrowest panel LST model available on the UK market. At

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just 420mm in width, it allows the specifier to make the most of available wall space, while maximising safety, reliability and aesthetics.

The new 420mm model comes in three heights: 650, 850 and 950mm, allowing it to be fitted in a range of locations. The comprehensive range of sizes

Kelly Smith is the Product Manager for Myson

suits all applications, in either LST Super or LST Super Plus model options. The optional valve kits for Myson LST radiators come with an A-rated thermostatic radiator valve for maximum energy efficiency.

Historically, overheated pipework has sometimes been the cause of burns, especially

when elderly and disabled people with poor mobility have fallen against pipework and have been unable to move away.

The Myson LST casing combats this danger with full coverage of the heating element and pipework, eliminating the risk of burns from over hot pipes – and fully complies with NHS Estates Health Guidance Notes 1998.

The LST Super has a depth of just 107mm, taking up the least amount of space in the room while emitting ample heat output with a maximum surface temperature of 43°C. The slightly deeper LST Super Plus has a modest depth of just 157mm.

The entire Myson LST range benefits from a smooth, rounded casing, which has no sharp edges, making this LST extremely safe for the elderly, infirm and very young in a multitude of applications from hospitals and care homes to nurseries, sports halls and special needs’ schools. Painted in a highquality durable white finish, its elegant appearance also makes it the perfect choice for domestic use in children’s rooms, retirement accommodation and sheltered housing.

The outer casing of the LST, although sturdy and hard-wearing, is easily removed for decorating, cleaning and maintenance and will give many years of trouble-free service. The LST carries a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee for both the casing and inner panel radiator.

In light of the fact that we now have heat emitters and heat sources that allow heating systems to operate at lower system temperatures while still providing adequate warmth, we might have expected that the Low Surface Temperature radiator was no longer needed in many applications, but this is not the case. The LST radiator remains an important heating product, as it is the only radiator on the market designed specifically to guarantee that the 43°C maximum surface temperature is not exceeded. 

 www.myson.co.uk  sales@myson.co.uk  0845 402 3434

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HVAC/HVP

District heating at Banbury Park in Walthamstow Evinox Energy recently worked with Higgins Construction & Circle Housing on a development in the creative heart of Walthamstow. Banbury Park is a mixed-used scheme comprising private and shared ownership homes, with landscaped community spaces, shops, offices, a community centre and a public square that will help lead the regeneration of the area.

The site was a former warehouse; an industrial works and electronics factory located in Waltham Forest. Evinox engineers completed a full design of the primary network for the district heating and hot water system for a complex of six different types of buildings.

The apartments are connected to the district heat network and each includes an Evinox ModuSat FS storage HIU to provide heating and hot water. The integrated hot water storage within the ModuSat enables the central plant to be reduced due to the increased thermal storage facility in each dwelling.

Residents at Banbury Park benefit from the Evinox PaySmart prepayment system, which is built into every ModuSat heat interface unit. The Evinox range of ModuSat heat interface units, is the only solution available that features fully integrated prepay ready billing technology.

This system enables residents to be in control of their own energy bills by paying in advance and therefore removing any burden of building up unpaid bills or debt. Residents can purchase their energy online using Evinox’s Residents website, at a local Payzone outlet, by monthly direct debit or standing order and by using Evinox’s Web app.

 www.evinoxresidential.co.uk  info@evinoxenergy.co.uk  01372 722277

Helping take the heat out of science lessons

CVO Fire extends range with modern space heaters CVO Fire has extended its range of high efficiency heating appliances with the addition of a new range of modern space heaters. Available in both wall and ceilingmounted versions and various finishes to complement any interior decor, models are available with 3Kw, 5Kw, 7Kw or 9kw heat outputs. Heaters can be operated manually or via a thermostatic remote control to manage all heaters within a given area, maximising heat distribution and reducing energy bills. Space heaters are easy to install and have an efficiency rating of 92%.

CVO Fire’s product range includes many energy-efficient heating solutions for all installation requirements and fuel types.

 www.cvo.co.uk  sales@cvo.co.uk  01325 301020

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Air movement specialist Gilberts (Blackpool) has solved the problem of ensuring effective natural ventilation in teaching areas. Gilberts’ solution is the inclusion of enhanced and boost options within its innovative Mistrale Fusion (MFS) natural ventilation system. The MFS uses an innovative combination of natural ventilation principles with heat extraction within a standalone unit to ventilate the internal space, requiring no support plant, complex or lengthy wiring. A mixing damper within modulates airflow to allow the new, fresh air to mix with the warm exhaust air, thus extracting its heat without the need for an exchanger and an integrated low-energy fan energises to blend the internal air.

 www.gilbertsblackpool.com

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What have you BIM waiting for?

Hamworthy Heating has extended its digital drawing library to now include 3D Revit models for its Powerstock range of calorifiers and storage tanks, plus its Chesil pressurisation units. These new BIM objects add to the company’s current BIM library that already includes many well-known boiler and hot water products, and ensures Hamworthy complies with the 2016 Government BIM mandate that requires centrally procured government funded public sector projects to be implemented in BIM Level 2. Partnering with bimstore, the original BIM component library, the models have been designed to the highest industry standards.

 www.hamworthy-heating.com  sales@hamworthy-heating.com  0845 450 2865

HVAC/HVP

Calor calls on schools to improve indoor air quality Calor is encouraging schools to be mindful of indoor air pollution from products, including faulty boilers and heaters, following a report by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The report highlights the impact of air pollution, which includes CO2 emissions.

Based on the standards set by the Education Funding Authority and adhered to by the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), maximum CO2 levels are set at 1500ppm for mechanical ventilation and 2000ppm for natural ventilation for no more than 20 minutes during the school day.

An increase above these levels has been associated with poor performance, potentially having an adverse effect on children and teachers’ productivity. As a result, Calor is calling on schools to check the reliability and efficient operation of heating appliances and devices.

Gregor Dalgleish, Commercial Sales Manager at Calor, explains: “The report demonstrates the impact of poor indoor air quality. Routine boiler maintenance will help ensure heating and hot water systems

are operating reliably and safely. We recommend implementing a scheduled service to ensure any issues are addressed early on.

“For sites based off the mains gas grid, boilers fuelled by LPG score highly against heating oil. In terms of carbon emissions, LPG offers 20% less CO2 per kWh than oil and emits fewer harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) than oil, kerosene and coal-fired heating systems. For those looking to upgrade to a cleaner fuel, or looking to replace an old, inefficient boiler, LPG delivers an environmentally-friendly, costeffective alternative.”

 www.calor.co.uk  askcalor@calor.co.uk  0800 121 4568

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

All four colourways – Molten, Iron Ore, Eisen and Carbon – present the transformation of weathered steel over time

KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING TAKES ITS DA VINCI COLLECTION TO THE NEXT LEVEL Karndean Designflooring is introducing 11 new stone designs and five complementary borders to its popular Da Vinci collection. Bringing the natural beauty and intricate textures of real stone indoors, the distinct 12 x 18” tile designs take inspiration from weathered steel, natural stone and woven fabric and offer a fresh palette of colours to suit any commercial or residential interior.

T

he three groups – weathered steel, natural stone and woven fabric – explore the latest trends in interior design including natural weathering, fossilisation and woven fabrics, and reflect Karndean’s unrivalled ability to take products from the natural world and recreate them in LVT. “Our product designers have captured new detailing and unique interpretations of real stone with LVT flooring designs that are easy to clean and enduring, without depleting natural resources,” explains

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Matthew Speck, Head of Commercial Sales at Karndean Designflooring.

He continues: “As well as offering a contemporary collection of stone designs to choose from, our new Da Vinci collection opens up a new specification, enabling us to offer our popular 12 x 18” tile with a 0.7mm wear layer and 3mm thickness.”

From the striking rust and weathered tones of Molten to the subtle, dark hues of Carbon, all four colourways – Molten, Iron Ore, Eisen and Carbon – present the transformation of

weathered steel over time, and are ideally placed against plain walls, exposed brick and simple furnishings for a stark, on-trend industrial feel.

Designed to offer a sophisticated and understated look, the four natural stone designs feature the realistic grain and fossilisation of limestone.

Perfect for both residential and commercial specifications, there’s the creamy tones of Dune and Bluff to the darker, grainer Sable and Drift.

The final three designs in the collection – Burnet, Cambric

Burnet, Cambric and Sindon challenge what we see as stone and offers modern, natural colours with a minimalistic look

and Sindon – challenge what we see as stone and offers modern, natural colours with a minimalistic look and subtle strands across each tile. Taking inspiration from natural fabrics and concrete combined, the designs can be purposely misleading and interpreted as natural woven fabric or lightly brushed concrete.

Introducing additional design variations, the new Da Vinci Stone collection comes with the option of contrasting and complementary borders and design strips.

Offering a R10 slip rating, the complete Da Vinci collection will now feature 18 stone and 18 wood designs, all available with a recently extended lifetime commercial guarantee. 

 www.karndean.com  commercial@karndean.co.uk  01386 820104

Sikafloor makes the grade The Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company in Knighton produces more than 175 million bottles each year. Its floor surface had to meet industry standards, withstand heavy machinery and be easy to clean.

Specialist contractor, Coatech, turned to Sika and the company’s Sikafloor PurCem polyurethane resin system. Following the re-screeding and sloping of the old floor, Coatech diamond ground the screed to provide an effective key for the application of 100m2 of Sikafloor Purcem 20. The Sikafloor system was also used as a seal coat for covings, ensuring ease of cleaning and hygiene. Sikafloor 20N Purcem is highly resistant to chemicals, fatty acids and temperature.

 www.sika.co.uk  enquiries@uk.sika.com  01707 383872

Residential construction specialist Lovell Homes, brought in Designer Contracts to add its interior design expertise to the four-bedroom Glenavon View show home at the developer’s Cherry Hill site in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. With a reputation for designing show home properties that respond to a tight marketing brief and deliver a rapid ROI to developers, Designer Contracts was instructed to create a scheme that would appeal to families and young professionals looking for an elegant home. This has resulted in a chic, sophisticated interior design reflecting the high-quality build and featuring a neutral palette of rich creams and taupes, highlighted with glamorous gold and pewter metallics.

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Designer Contracts provides high-quality show home

 www.designercontracts.com  enquiries@designercontracts.com  01246 854577

Heraklith panels help restore church Hundreds of square metres of thermoacoustic woodwool boards, made by Heraklith and supplied by Marmox, have been employed in the restoration of a Grade II Listed church building, located in East London, St. Paul’s Church, Bow Common, following weather damage. During the painstaking work, a total of 135 standard Heraklith panels were consumed by Noble & Taylor’s craftsmen; being readily-cut to shape onsite and decorated as desired by the consultants to match as closely as possible the original decorative scheme. Heraklith panels are produced from natural timber fibres to provide a durable and versatile woodwool insulation.

 www.marmox.co.uk

 sales@marmox.co.uk

 01634 835290

Multipurpose acoustic solutions from ROCKFON make sporting sense at Corelli College

Corelli College in London opened its £2.6m sports complex earlier this year. ROCKFON ceiling solutions were installed throughout to provide the required acoustic control and satisfy BB93 Building Regulation standards. Delivering exceptional acoustic comfort, ROCKFON Samson wall absorbers were chosen for the main sports hall. The showers and changing areas are exposed to high levels of moisture. ROCKFON Koral ceiling tiles have a durable, wipeable surface and will maintain their shape and colour even at humidity levels of up to 100%RH so they are ideal for wet areas. To combat unwanted sounds travelling through walls, disturbing lessons, ROCKFON Artic was installed to provide the required sound absorption.

 www.rockfon.co.uk

 info@rockfon.co.uk

 0800 389 0314

Affinity255 flooring creates bold design at Nottingham School

Affinity255 PUR luxury vinyl tiles from Polyflor were recently used to create a simple yet stunning floor design for a refurbished common room area at Nottingham Girls’ High School. The contrasting Champagne Oak and Jet Black Ash wood effect designs from the Affinity255 LVT collection were installed at the independent school for girls near Nottingham’s city centre. A large square was created using the Jet Black Ash shade in the centre of the floor to contrast against the common room’s white furniture. The Affinity255 range is ideal for busy areas in education environments where a high level of foot traffic is expected.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

Flowcrete UK cements partnership with Total Protection Flowcrete UK and Total Protection have refurbished a 1580m2 Cambridge Council garage and car park. The site was suffering from water migration, cracking, leaking gullies, undulations and a recess in the concrete slab. Flowcrete UK and Total Protection, Flowcrete’s exclusive applicator partner for social housing projects in the South of England, provided all of the flooring systems and knowledge required.

Flowfast F1 Mortar repaired the substrate, gullies, voids and buried joints. Isocrete Isopol SBR created a waterproof screed and render band. Flowcoat SF41 was applied across the 850m2 garage and 700m2 of Deckshield was installed in the car park.

 www.flowcrete.co.uk  uk@flowcrete.com  01270 753000

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Doors, Windows & Balustrades

RH Partnership has worked closely with Crittall Windows to reproduce the patterns and profiles using W20 sections and to incorporate double glazed units for The Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX'S WINNING PERFORMANCE WITH CRITTALL WINDOWS Two iconic buildings within the University of Sussex's campus have benefitted from new and replacement fenestration. The University's Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts (ACCA), designed in the 1960s by Sir Basil Spence and subsequently a Listed Grade II by English Heritage, called for new fenestration. Elsewhere, Falmer House, a Grade I Listed building housing various university services and the University of Sussex Students' Union, required a replacement fenestration programme.

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ew fenestration for the Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts presented a particular challenge for architects RH Partnership, but the successful outcome has been achieved thanks to close collaboration with steel window expert Crittall.

The building’s curved brick exterior is punctuated at ground floor level by steel windows and doors that, along with the rest of the structure, had fallen into a state of disrepair. Extensive consultation was undertaken

by RH Partnership with English Heritage and Brighton & Hove City Council’s conservation team for the most acceptable solution to replace the existing metal framed, single glazed windows and doors.

“RH Partnership have worked

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very closely with Crittall Windows to reproduce the patterns and profiles using W20 sections and to incorporate double glazed units,” says Architect, David Sweeney.

“With large areas of glazing in the front of house spaces, the capability to add slimline double glazed units has drastically improved the thermal performance of this building.”

Solar control glass has also been added to particular south and east-facing windows to reduce overheating during summertime, and natural ventilation has been improved by an increase in openable windows and the introduction of trickle vents. The complete refurbishment of the building has provided the university with a cultural flagship structure.

When a replacement fenestration programme was proposed for the iconic Falmer House at the university, Crittall was also contracted to supply a selection of its Corporate W20 profiles and Corporate 2000 cold form doors for the project.

The building was designed again by famous Architect Sir Basil Spence in the 1960s.

Brick-faced with a vault, column structure and extensive glazing, the unusual building is the first to be seen when entering the campus.

The window replacement scheme is part of a multimillion pound venture to upgrade the self-contained site, which was awarded a bronze medal from RIBA for its design and architecture and enjoys a Grade I listed status for a development of exceptional

interest.

The window specification had to be sensitive to the original design criteria and not detract from the visual appearance of the building.

Crittall supplied its Corporate W20 profiles as a like-for-like replacement. English Heritageapproved, the W20 profiles were the ideal choice for the replacement scheme, with the narrow sightlines minimising any obtrusive mullions and transoms, and allowing the glazing to blend unobtrusively into the existing architecture, enhancing its aesthetic value.

Corporate W20 windows and doors offer designers great versatility including the ability to create or reproduce many styles.

They deliver very slim sightlines, are English Heritage-approved, and find widespread favour with planners and conservationists.

Corporate 2000 are equally suited for residential, institutional and commercial applications, and can be used to produce unusual and innovative window wall designs.

Major user sectors are offices, hotels, hospitals, universities and schools. 

 www.crittall-windows.co.uk  hq@crittall-windows.co.uk  01376 530800

English Heritage-approved, the W20 profiles were the ideal choice for the replacement scheme at Falmer House

Doors, Windows & Balustrades

Fully reversible hinge from Yale and Sealco

GEZE UK creates entrance for spitfireshaped building GEZE has installed two of its popular Slimdrive SCR all-glass circular lobbies to create two impressive entrances for the Wing, a building designed to echo the shape and uplift of a spitfire’s wings.

The first entrance provides access from the car park and the second provides access to a memorial. The creation of the lobby helps to limit heat loss, preventing blasts of hot or cold air. Each circular lobby features two sets of automatic bi-parting, curved sliding glass doors, which are powered by GEZE’s Slimdrive SCR drive, which has an operating height of just 7cm, making the installation almost invisible and enhances the all-glass effect.

 www.geze.co.uk  info.uk@geze.com  01543 443000

A new fully reversible hinge from Yale, exclusively distributed in the UK by Sealco, brings versatility in installation and ease of stocking thanks to its unique patented dual function restrictor. The Yale Revolution window hinge can be switched between anti-blowback and easy close functions. As a result, a single solution meets the needs of private and public sector buildings – housing associations, property developers or commercial owners need only select their preferred option at the point of installation. It also features integral locking for safety, making it the ideal choice for reversible residential and commercial upper floor windows.

 www.sealco-scotland.co.uk

 info@sealco-scotland.com

 01324 610710

Optima from Profile 22 – future-proof high-performance windows Profile 22 has unveiled Optima, developed to be the most advanced products of their type available in the UK. Developed with commercial sectors in mind, and backed by the Profile 22 Approved Window Contractors scheme, Optima offers a compelling choice for the professional specifier. Behind this launch is a rethink of each of the key processes in the production of a window and door system for the 21st century: extrusion processes that ensure quality and consistency, whilst protecting the environment through reduced energy and ecological impact, and products that easily satisfy current technical and aesthetic demands by anticipating those of many years ahead.

 www.profile22.co.uk

 specifier@profile22.co.uk

 01952 290910

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems completes Seaford Library complex

This multimillion pound project is part of the Sutton Park Road development for East Sussex County Council and Saxon Weald Homes. This mixed-use project was completed using Comar 5P.i Tilt & Turn windows, Comar 6EFT curtain walling, Comar 7 folding sliding doors and Comar 7P.i CD doors in both pivot and sliding configurations. The architect’s design vision was to create a continuous wall of glass to the library's ground floor facade. With this in mind, and to ensure the design brief could be achieved, Comar 6EFT was selected as it offers architects a flexible system, providing a structurally glazed solution.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

Britain’s composite door brand is now BIM compliant Permadoor has more than 25 years’ experience in the affordable homes, new build and social housing markets.

Permadoor’s extensive experience includes working with local authorities, housing association registered providers and contractors on refurbishment and new build projects across the UK. A commitment to Building Information Modelling (BIM) was therefore inevitable and part of the company’s commitment to its public sector clients. Permadoor’s commitment to BIM Level 2 has been completed and, despite extensive publicity surrounding the advent of BIM Permadoor, is one of just a handful of residential composite door manufacturers that has made such a commitment.

 www.permadoor.co.uk

 info@permadoor.co.uk

 01684 595200

Restructuring at the top for The Window Company (Contracts) The Window Company (Contracts) has announced a restructuring of its senior management team. Founder and Managing Director David Thornton has moved up to become Chairman, and Projects Director Rob Petre has been promoted to Managing Director. The other members of the senior management team – Martin Thornton, Rachel Petre, Katie Thornton and Sheila Thornton have also all been made Directors and Shareholders. David Thornton said: “We have been preparing this move for several years and now I am delighted that we can move on to the next phase of our growth and development with the whole team as stakeholders.”

 www.thewinco.co.uk  thornton@thewinco.co.uk  01245 268120

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Focus & Innovation

The UPM ProFi Design Deck range gives outdoor living a fresh and modern feel

new additions W ithfortwo 2016, the UPM ProFi

DECKING THAT OFFERS A LUXURIOUS HARDWOOD LOOK AND ULTRA LOW MAINTENANCE James Latham’s latest range of premium composite decking offers the natural look and feel of tropical wood with outstanding performance properties including: minimum maintenance, superior stain resistance, extra high impact strength and a high friction surface. Manufactured in Germany by UPM, ProFi Deck is offered in two stunning design styles, UPM ProFi Classic Deck and UPM ProFi Design Deck.

The impressive range now includes UPM ProFi Loggia S1, UPM ProFi Lifecycle S1 and UPM ProFi Lifecycle S2

46

Classic Deck range offers the beauty of a hardwood deck without the high maintenance.

Wood and cellulose fibres are encapsulated in selected polymers, providing lasting protection from the weather.

The advanced composite technology provides superior resistance to UV, frost, stains and impacts when compared to traditional composite or wood decks. Rich colour tones and veins are combined with a natural texture. The impressive range now includes UPM ProFi Loggia S1, UPM ProFi Lifecycle S1 and UPM ProFi Lifecycle S2.

The UPM ProFi Design Deck range gives outdoor living a fresh, modern feel. Renowned designers from around the world have been inspired to work with the wide colour range and clean looks. The Design Deck range includes UPM ProFi Deck 150 which offers high impact and scratch resistance, a reversible profile, a closed surface for low-maintenance and ligninfree colour durability. Plus, it is also manufactured using more than 50% recyclable materials.

Richard Mosson, James Latham’s Group Cladding and Decking Manager, commented: “The WPC decking market in the US is currently worth $1.6b and is set to grow to $3b by 2020 which is enormous and here in the UK we are seeing its popularity growing all the time both in the commercial and residential sectors as the market comes to appreciate not only the low-maintenance benefits, but also the long-term cost advantage.”

He continued: “The quality of the UPM ProFi Deck range is exceptional. Longlife and ultra-low maintenance has been engineered into the product, plus, due to the innovative use of recycled materials – some of the range is made using up to 95% – it has won several international awards, with the product making a major contribution to reducing traditional landfill and incineration which is really important to James Latham.” 

 www.lathamtimber.co.uk  marketing@lathams.co.uk  0116 257 3415

PRO GRP roof coating for seamless performance Cromar PRO GRP represents the latest in glass fibre flat roofing technology.

Cold-applied with high impact and fire resistance, it provides a seamless, high build, flexible and virtually maintenancefree coating for projects of all sizes and types. Easy to form around complex details, it can even be applied to vertical surfaces and will withstand heavy foot traffic, even as part of a non-slip walkway. PRO GRP upstand, fillet drip sections, moisture traps, gun-applied trim adhesive and flashings are all available to fully trained contractors throughout the UK who can offer a 25-year performance guarantee.

 www.cromarbuildingproducts.com  danielmarshall@cromar.uk.com  01977 663133

Remmers UK has given its website a fresh new look and the fluent, responsive design means that it can now also be viewed on both desktop and mobile devices easily. The new site enables all visitors access to a wide range of detailed information quickly and efficiently. Highlights include Remmers’ product catalogues, technical data sheets, in-house and NBS specification guides, colour charts, literature and system-specific project references, along with a host of other helpful product and system information. The website also has an up-to-date news section and integrated social media links to Remmers’ Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

 www.remmers.co.uk

 clairemitchell@remmers.co.uk

Roofing, Cladding & Focus & Innovation Insulation

Remmers' website – new, improved and accessible to specifiers

 01293 594010

Marley Eternit's Sitework app offers 90 years' roofing experience A new app delivering 90 years of roofing installation, compliance and specification expertise has been made available as a free download on Google play, Amazon and iTunes by Marley Eternit. The Sitework app gives house-builders and specifiers the confidence to check and challenge the quality of work on site. Features include: automatically updated information on installation for fitting Marley Eternit’s extensive range of tiles, slates, dry fix and ventilation systems to the latest BS 5534 requirements, as well as storage instructions, safety requirements and information on the full range of products. The app also automatically updates with the latest regulations to enable users to keep up-to-date with industry changes.

 www.marleyeternit.co.uk/siteworkguide  info@marleyeternit.co.uk  01283 722588

IDS offers hard-wearing wall cladding solution with Altro Fortis range

Developed to complement the Altro Whiterock range, Altro Fortis wall cladding provides a cost-effective, hard-wearing solution for walls, corners and doors in high traffic areas such as schools, hotels, leisure centres and environments prone to wear-andtear. The full Altro Fortis range is available ex-stock from IDS with a 24-48 hour delivery throughout the UK. Quick and easy to install, Altro Fortis does not require specialist training, tools or certification and is backed by a 20-year guarantee. Strong, durable and impact resistant, the lightly textured surface of the uPVC sheets offer enhanced protection from impact and scuff damage to maintain their appearance and reduce maintenance costs.

 www.idsurfaces.co.uk

 info@idsurfaces.co.uk

 08457 298298

Big Foot Systems launches ground-mounted support solution Big Foot Systems has expanded its impressive range and can now offer a stand range to support air conditioning units on the ground. This addition bridges a gap in the market as the only off-the-shelf solution for ground-mounted applications. This offering is a simple solution for contractors who have previously made DIY supports out of struts as a quick-fix on site.

This convenient, lightweight solution comes boxed and ready to use and is a superior solution for contractors. Big Foot Systems’ ground-mount support system caters for a wide variety of condensing units, with two ranges that suit mini splits and VRF/VRV condensing units.

 www.bigfootsupport.com

 enquiry@bigfootsupport.com

 01323 844355

Industry recognition for JB Shingles Helping a project to blend seamlessly with its surroundings and providing a harmonious and calming environment for care home residents, has seen Marley Eternit’s JB Shingles win the Sustainability Roofs (Shingles and Shakes) category at the UK Roofing Awards 2016. The winning project was an annex on London Care Partnership’s (LCP) Alexandra Gardens Care Home, Hounslow. The newest part of the centre was constructed to create six singlestorey apartments. Although it adjoins the main building, it is set in its own small woodland enclave surrounded by trees. The building had to blend with its environment, which was a key reason why JB Western red cedar shingles were specified.

 www.johnbrash.co.uk  info@johnbrash.co.uk  01427 675588

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Focus & Innovation

Many of the wall areas in the building are being waterproofed with a ‘type C’ system using the well-established Delta MS500

DELTA MEMBRANE SYSTEMS PROTECTS THE V&A Work has begun on the creation of a three-storey basement at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, with a variety of materials from Delta Membrane Systems selected to create the necessary waterproofing to the structure. The contract itself is being carried out by Wates Construction, with VolkerLaser (a company that has used the Delta range on many occasions) being called upon to carry out the waterproofing work. structure of T hetheexternal new area has been formed from contiguous piling that has been faced up with sprayed waterproof concrete.

In plan, this piled area has an ‘L’ shape, with the soil within the structure excavated to create the necessary space and the piling forming the walls. The end result will be a new entrance, courtyard and purpose-built subterranean gallery for temporary exhibitions, showcasing the best of contemporary design as well as the beauty of the V&A’s existing structure.

The entire internal facing is coated with Köster Polysil TG500, a thin anti-lime fluid based on a polymer and silicate combination. It helps reduce the pore volume and reduce the danger of new development of salt efflorescence and free lime egress. It also increases the chemical and mechanical

48

resistance of mineral building materials. Capable of penetrating the substrate by up to 20mm, Köster Polysil TG500 also has strengthening and hydrophobic properties.

It is compatible with mortars, plasters, cementitious slurries and with concrete.

Many of the wall areas in the building are then being waterproofed with a ‘type C’ system using the wellestablished Delta MS500, an 8mm cavity drain membrane.

This drains any water and water vapour that may ingress through the structure to a suitable drainage outlet, i.e. a sump pump.

For the floors, Delta MS20 has been employed. This heavy gauge option has 20mm deep studs, and is used on the floor slab to give extra drainage capacity. Features include a compressive strength of

approximately 150kN/m2, with excellent pressure distribution and low point loads.

Other internal walls within the structure are benefiting from a ‘type A’ system, Köster NB1 grey slurry, which is a mineral coating containing crystallising and capillary plugging agents. It can be used for waterproofing against ground moisture and nonpressurised and pressurised water. Waterproofing undertaken with Köster NB 1 is characterised by excellent resistance to pressure and abrasion as well as excellent resistance to chemicals. Areas that are coated with NB1 slurry also benefit from bentonite sheeting on the outside of the piling in areas.

Work is expected to be complete by the end of 2016, creating a number of public spaces inside and outside the museum, and ‘opening up the relationship’ between Exhibition Road and the V&A, as well as the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. 

 www.deltamembranes.com  info@deltamembranes.com  01992 523523

A variety of materials from Delta Membrane Systems have been selected to create the necessary waterproofing to the V&A's three-storey basement

Future Energy Solutions diagnoses ideal LED lighting solution for Spire Healthcare As part of its ongoing process of improvement, Spire Healthcare recognised the need to reduce its lighting-related energy spend and maintain good levels of illumination in its external car parking areas. Therefore the company invited lighting expert Future Energy Solutions (FES) to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study to scope the objectives and to determine the optimal LED lighting and commercial solutions.

Focus & Innovation

FES created a full project scope for the supply and installation of the LED lighting, which was broken down site-by-site, and a fully comprehensive rollout plan began in June 2014.

Now in situ, these luminaires have achieved in excess of 70% energy savings from a simple point-for-point replacement, while also providing 25% better light output.

Furthermore, the newly-installed luminaires have an enhanced rated life in the scale of 3 to 20 times that of the old luminaires.

FES has calculated that Spire Healthcare will save in excess of £525,000 over a 10-year period. This figure comprises over £385,000 in energy savings, over £110,000 in maintenance costs and £27,000 in environmental tax savings, related to its inclusion in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, as well as additional resource savings. With an overall energy usage reduction in excess of 266,000kWh, the effect on the environment will also be significant too, with carbon dioxide (CO2), mono-nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions all drastically lowered.

The results have been dramatic and as well as making instant financial savings, the lit environment has been significantly improved.

 www.feslighting.co.uk  marcus.brodin@feslighting.co.uk  0207 908 3921

Powder coating reflects London's pride in architecture and design Regeneration of the 2012 Olympic Village and Stadium into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park reflects London's proud heritage of high-quality architecture, landscape and urban design.

With the majority of the site under public ownership, there are important requirements for sustainable development and realistic budgets. Powdertech (Corby) has recently demonstrated that design need not be compromised by budgetary restrictions. Car park aluminium screening panels, designed as a wall of horizontally positioned pyramids, were intended to be anodised but the original cost, which included high grade aluminium, proved prohibitively high.

Not wanting to lose the design vision of the striking effect created by anodising, two existing supply chain

partners approached Powdertech. “The challenge was to find a powder coating shade or shades that produced the same overall effect as anodising,” says Richard Besant, Director Powdertech (Corby).

“I took 32 different swatches of closely related shade and finish variations to the architect.”

The final selection was four slightly different metallic shades for the four sides of each pyramid which created an effect similar to the light reflection of anodising.

Powdertech coated over 1000 triangular panels. The overall cost was almost 75% less than an anodised system.

Powdertech also coated the steel support system for the panels using a zinc-rich powder primer and RAL 7035 top coat to provide a neutral back drop for the four-shade effect of the panels.

“Powdertech was very pleased to meet this challenge, and to show that exciting design visions can be brought to fruition at an affordable cost,” comments Richard Besant.

 www.powdertechcorby.co.uk  pcl@powdertech.co.uk  01536 400890

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Focus & Innovation

The brief called for acoustic barriers to the allweather pitch and roadway to effectively create an acoustic enclave and also to accommodate a mature tree which was directly on the fence line

JACKSONS FENCING REDUCES NOISE WITH ACOUSTIC BARRIERS The Leys School is the only co-educational boarding and day school in Cambridge. The sports complex at the school, specifically the all-weather pitch, has been in use by the school for over 20 years without complaint from neighbouring residential properties. However, when the school opened its doors to selective use of its sports facilities by external parties, some of the neighbours expressed concerns about the increase in the levels and duration of noise from the school. to maintain good K een relationships with its neighbours whilst equally wanting to play a bigger part in promoting healthy communities, the school had two choices; it could either restrict usage of the facility exclusively to school activities or look to ways in which the

benefit could be shared by the wider community.

The noise survey To better understand the concerns of its neighbours, the school commissioned an acoustic survey of the sports facilities which was carried out by Cass Allen Associates, a leading

acoustics consultancy firm.

The survey, which measured noise levels in the gardens of neighbouring properties while the sports facilities were in and out of use, reported that the principal noise concerns stemmed from the impulsive and intermittent nature of the noise rather than the absolute noise level. For example, the high frequency ‘clack’ sound as a hockey stick hits a ball, or of the ball striking the boundary of the playing area, which draws attention to itself in a way that the dominant measured noise source, in this case, of distant traffic does not.

The report concluded that while noise levels were below what would be deemed acceptable, optional measures could be employed to reduce further noise migration.

The project In response to its client’s brief, architectural practice, Cavaleri Partnership, prepared a scheme

The resulting installation will please both the school’s neighbours and the wider community as the two-layer acoustic solution is calculated to deliver a 10dBA reduction in noise

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to redevelop the internal roadway around the school grounds – specifically alongside the sports facilities – regularise temporary parking arrangements and effect a number of other changes to enhance pupil safety and reduce noise nuisance from extended use of the facilities.

While not a direct requirement, but in line with the results of the acoustic survey, the school instructed its agent to submit an application that included the use of acoustic fencing to mitigate noise from the sports facilities, the redeveloped roadway and associated parking, which would also yield the incremental benefit of reducing head light pollution from the site.

Jacksons Fencing was appointed to design, deliver and install over 227m of timber Jakoustic fencing, this features its unique tuningfork posts and black powder coated steel spurs at 3.0m-high along with associated access gates. The brief called for acoustic barriers to the allweather pitch and roadway to effectively create an acoustic enclave, and for the boundary fencing alongside the roadway to maintain its height over undulating ground, and also to accommodate a mature tree which was directly on the fence line.

The result The resulting installation will please both the school’s neighbours and the wider community as the two-layer acoustic solution is calculated to deliver a 10dBA (calculated through use of 3D modelling) reduction in noise measured in the middle of the gardens backing on to the sports facilities.

In other words, the noise from the hockey pitch will be around 10dBA lower in the gardens relative to the other ambient noise sources in the area, which is a significant improvement and a measure generally accepted to represent a halving of subjective loudness. 

 www.jacksons-security.co.uk  security@jacksons-fencing.co.uk  01233 750393

SPORTFIX components installed at UCC Mardyke athletics track Excessive rainwater has to be removed quickly and reliably from sports fields and competition areas. The SPORTFIX drainage channels, and other components offered by Hauraton, comply with the latest standards and also meet IAAF requirements. It is essential that sports facilities are designed and equipped to prevent serious injury to sports people if falls or accidents occur.

Focus & Innovation

The University College Cork (UCC) has redeveloped its Mardyke athletics track in Cork City, Republic of Ireland. The new facility is part of a €10m budget and included a new synthetic eight-lane, fully floodlit, running track built to the IAAF standard with an additional 3720m² (40,000 ft²) added to the original arena. The arena now includes an indoor 60m running track, a performance analysis suite, two additional gym areas with over 140 additional pieces of the latest gym equipment and three additional fitness studios.

Hauraton SPORTFIX drainage channels with aluminium finishing edges were installed around the perimeter of the IAAF, 400m track and along its straight. A steeple chase water jump kit was also installed alongside Hauraton SPORTFIX sand traps and soft edging around the long jump pit.

Tim Connolly, Managing Director of Hauraton, points out: “Our SPORTFIX range offers products that not only meet the requirements of the IAAF for athletic tracks; there are drainage components for artificial turf playing fields, service channels and retractable shafts for cable management with drainage systems for grassed football fields.”

 www.drainage-projects.co.uk  janine.kennedy@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

First Carbon Trust certified window handle from Mila

The new GRIP (Green Reliable Intelligent Polymer) espag handle from Mila is the first mainstream window hardware product to be certified by the Carbon Trust. In contrast with conventional espag handles, which are normally manufactured in zinc or aluminium, GRIP is produced from a high strength, fully recyclable polycomposite ABS. This gives it a carbon footprint which is 60% lower than existing handles on the market and offers specifiers a simple, stylish and cost-effective option for projects where low embodied carbon targets have been set. Mila’s GRIP is also the first espag handle to be available in any RAL colour.

 www.mila.co.uk

 sales@mila.co.uk

 01327 312400

Novus joins forces with Staffordshire Housing Group

Novus Property Solutions will provide responsive repairs to over 2600 Staffordshire Housing Group properties and will assign 115 staff to the project to ensure all repairs can be delivered promptly.

The £1m contract will also deliver void repairs when tenants vacate properties in order to bring properties up to the very best possible standards.

Mark Wilkinson, Staffordshire Housing’s Property Services Manager, said: “We are delighted to appoint Novus as our responsive repairs contractor. They have a reputation of delivering customer-focused services and we’re really looking forward to using their knowledge and skills to improve the service we provide to our customers.”

 www.novussolutions.co.uk

 info@novussolutions.co.uk

 01782 598000

Toilet education Continence in schools and toilet provision are growing issues. Something as simple as changing a conventional WC for a wash and dry toilet will help deliver consistent cleanliness after any little ‘accidents’. Clos-o-Mat manufactures wash and dry toilets which can be used as conventional WCs, but also have builtin douching and drying. Simultaneous flushing and douching followed by warm air drying, is triggered by remaining seated and pressure on the flush pad.

Clos-o-Mat's Palma Vita can be adapted to accommodate younger users, with a range of paediatric supports; the Lima Lift version is fully height adjustable, enabling it to be lowered or raised.

 www.clos-o-mat.com  info@clos-o-mat.com  0161 969 1199

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Focus & Innovation

The Trespa Meteon panels that were installed once the units were erected, delineate each individual modular unit

HULL CITY PLANNERS GIVE TRESPA THE THUMBS UP

A landmark development of sustainable, energy-efficient homes has given a Hull council estate a vibrant splash of colour, thanks to Trespa Meteon cladding panels. Villa Place, a terrace of five three-bedroom houses, has been built for the Goodwin Development Trust on the Thornton Estate in West Hull. The aim was to provide tenant families with a high-quality home using modular construction, renewable energy sources and recycling to reduce wastage.

F

ully occupied by the end of April, the homes feature photovoltaic panels, a communal rainwater harvesting tank, grey water recycling, restricted water usage and triple glazed windows and doors.

But, whereas these facilities are not obvious from the outside, Villa Place cannot fail to catch the eye. Its vibrant palette of colours created by Trespa Meteon panels were specified for the rainscreen cladding system, with four different shades used on each of the five dwellings.

“The client was looking for something completely different, something that stood out from the estate in all respects,” says

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Daniel Hyde from architects, Hodsons. Each of the dwellings were constructed from four prefabricated modular units that were craned into position on site.

The Trespa Meteon panels that were installed once the units were erected, delineate each individual modular unit.

“When we started looking for cladding we found such bold colours in the Trespa Meteon range. We asked for samples and what we received was awesome,” says Mr Hyde.

Hull City Council planners raised no objection to the colour scheme, or any other aspect of the development, so Villa Place went ahead.

“But there were other aspects of Trespa’s offer that impressed the architects,” explains Mr Hyde. “Trespa is committed to sustainable development and strives to improve and minimise the impact of its operations and products. Trespa Meteon uses up to 70% wood fibres from FSC or PEFC sources and the lifespan of the panels was significantly better than anything else available,” he says.

This was the first occasion that Hodsons had specified Trespa products, but it will not be the last. “Bungalows are in demand now in Hull,” says Mr Hyde, “and, as a result of Villa Place, the Goodwin Trust, working with Hull City Council, is now planning to build 22 modular bungalows using Trespa Meteon panels to achieve the same sort of effect.”

Trespa Meteon is a decorative, high-pressure compact laminate with an integral surface manufactured using Trespa’s unique in-house technologies that utilise dry-forming and electron beam curing. It is the company’s leading family of architectural panels for facades and exterior applications, created – as with all Trespa products – in close collaboration with architects, designers, installers, distributors and end users. 

 www.trespa.com  info.uk@trespa.com  0808 234 0268

Villa Place's vibrant palette of colours created by Trespa Meteon panels were specified for the rainscreen cladding system

Focus & Innovation

Portakabin announces more sustainability initiatives

The Portakabin Group has announced more sustainability commitments and initiatives to help its customers further reduce their carbon footprint. Waste streams from the manufacture of its modular buildings at its international production centre in York, have been increased from 18 to 26 and now include: used vinyl flooring recycled for traffic cones and other plastic products, take-back schemes for batteries, fluorescent bulbs, printer cartridges and new vinyl flooring off-cuts, waste streams for plastics increased from three to five and mastic tubes are now recycled, five metal waste streams for recycling different grades of steel, aluminium and copper and waste from solvents is re-used as furnace fuel.

 www.portakabin-group.co.uk  information@portakabin.co.uk  0845 401 0010

Premium Products make light work of working on site

The Hultafors Group’s Premium brands, each deliver leading innovations and marketing-leading products in tools, workwear and safety shoes. Snickers Workwear’s Next Generation working clothes and accessories are delivering the ultimate in on site functionality, comfort, protection and safety. They are perfectly complemented by Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety shoes, which bring modern looks plus uncompromising safety and comfort in a range of styles that will keep you one step ahead of the rest.

Add all that to the Hultafors range of premium hand tools and you have a unique family of products that make craftsmen’s workday safer, easier and more productive.

Coloured sinks at attainable prices

Coloured sinks continue to be a popular trend and the new Columba synthetic inset sink from Carron Phoenix is the cost-conscious option, underscoring the company’s flair for delivering highperformance, quality and value for money. Available in either Graphite or Arctic White, its simple lines and gently curved corners offer a versatile, modern design to suit a wide range of kitchens.

Utilising state-of-the-art synthetics technology, the sink is tough and durable, being resistant to heat, shock and impact and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The Columba is available in single and 1.5 bowl options, both measuring 970 x 500mm.

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk  info@snickersworkwear.co.uk  01484 854788

 www.carron.com  sales@carron.com  0161 436 6280

The ultimate flat surface cleaner from Spinaclean

Surface-mounted controls for simply saving energy DANLERS has launched a new range of hardwired, surface-mounted, round PIR occupancy switches in a choice of different switching and switch and dim options. All products include: versions for presence detection and versions for absence detection, they can be mounted directly onto a ceiling or onto a range of different mounting boxes, they have adjustable time lag settings, alongside an adjustable photocell 30-1000 lux and inactive mode, and they come with a snap-fit mounting plate which is easy to install. Furthermore, all products are backed with a 5-year warranty and are made in the UK.

 www.danlers.co.uk  sales@danlers.co.uk  01249 443377

Spinaclean, the specialist pressure washer and cleaning equipment manufacturer has launched Slipstream Pro 20, a flat surface and traditional pressure washer for large areas of commercial and domestic paving, brickwork and decking. Resulting from trade customer research, this model comes with all the features requested for the ultimate commercial pressure washer package.

It is ideal for commercial or residential cleaning contractors, facilities management companies, building maintenance firms and landscapers. Due to high volume production the price has reduced to £1590, a saving of £510 on the previous model. It makes light work of large flat surfaces and cleans 380m2 of slabs per day.

 www.spinaclean.com

 info@spinaclean.com

 01327 831604

Berwickshire HA installs cutting-edge products from Aico

Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA) has announced its decision to install Aico Smoke and Heat Alarm system solutions to reduce call-outs, provide tenants with control, enable alarm data extraction and connect with external telecare systems. Aico’s new mains powered multi-sensor fire alarm, Ei2110e, will be installed throughout all of BHA’s properties over the coming years. The multi-sensor fire alarm contains two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly monitor smoke and heat levels, sending and receiving information via its intelligent detection software. This sensor information alters the alarm’s sensitivity and trigger points, automatically providing the best response to all fire types and reduces potential false alarms.

 www.aico.co.uk  enquiries@aico.co.uk  01691 664100

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Focus & Innovation

Earthborn revamps Ecopro range Ecopro matt emulsion, Lo sheen emulsion and Eggshell have been repackaged and are now available in all 98 shades of BS4800, plus black and white. The new palette offers a huge choice and enables colour matching with other decorating features.

The Ecopro Emulsions are available in 5l and 10l plastic tubs while the Eggshell is in 750ml and 2.5l tins. The Ecopro range is uniquely formulated for high-performance and all three products are totally oil and acrylic-free, with minimal VOCs. Eggshell is a new addition to the range.

Suitable for use on interior walls, ceilings and woodwork, it’s a complete all-rounder.

It dries to an attractive sheen that is durable, washable and scuff resistant.

Ecopro emulsions are water-based, low odour and environmentally sound alternatives to conventional wall and ceiling emulsions.

The matt option is particularly suitable for use on new plaster, while Lo sheen is formulated for enhanced durability and washability.

Complying with the strict EU Ecolabel standards, the range is not only eco-friendly, but newly decorated rooms can be brought back into use quickly because the paints do not give off any harmful emissions or odours.

All three products in the Ecopro range are available in a choice of 100 colours

 www.earthbornpaints.co.uk  sales@earthbornpaints.co.uk  01928 734171

REHAU Passivhaus products chosen for social housing project

Stannah at the centre of the action

Stannah Lift Services demonstrated its continuous support at The Facilities Show 2016. Stannah sponsored the FM Operational Excellence Arena from which a programme of informative talks offered practical advice on some of the many challenges facing the facilities industry every day. Stannah lift experts presented two sessions in the FM Excellence Arena.

Mike Wells, Stannah Compliance Manager (Lifts), covered those awkward questions of: what to do if there is a fire in your building and who does what if someone becomes trapped in a lift and Dan White, South West England and South Wales Branch Manager, talked specifiers through ‘how to get the best out of your service provider’.

 www.stannahlifts.co.uk  liftsales@stannah.co.uk  01264 339090

54

REHAU’s expertise in the Passivhaus sector has been demonstrated with an installation of windows and doors in one of the UK’s first Passivhaus-certified social housing projects.

REHAU GENEO tilt and turn windows, French doors and the new AGILA Passivhaus entrance door were all fabricated by Passivhaus specialists GRM Innovations for the Sarisbury Green development.

This is the first installation of the AGILA Passivhaus entrance door.

It achieves a Ud value of just 0.7 W/m²K, and comes pre-glazed with high security hardware pre-fitted. REHAU’s GENEO windows were also installed. Manufactured using REHAU’s RAUFIPRO fibre composite material, they achieve Uw values as low as 0.73W/m²K.

 www.rehau.uk/passivhaus

 irene.smith@rehau.com

 01989 762600

Pendock columns greet patients at Ashford hospital

A new private healthcare facility has been completed with architects choosing Pendock to supply column casings, which flank the reception desk and another check-in point.

The Pendock column casings add their own element of elegance in the design of the two reception areas. Making a clear visual statement as well as concealing the much more mundane structural columns, the casings have been supplied in a traditional Egger Alabaster colour, with black laminate recessed collars around their bases. One pair was fabricated to stand 3.6m in height, while the ones either side of the main reception measure 3300mm and 2550mm tall.

 www.pendock.co.uk

 sales@pendock.co.uk

 01952 580590

Structural www.firmanglass.com

Glazing Excellence

To find out more visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com

www.firmanglass.com

S&

S

SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Ltd ...the complete fall protection & access providers

Walkways

Handrails

Lifelines

Flexideck Walkway system is a combination of GRP and polyethylene that provides safe access for foot traffic on fragile roofs.

Ideal for installation on standing seam aluminium roofs where regular access is required for maintenance personnel.

Rooflights, protective fall guard panels.

Access across fragile roofs.

Suitable for roof perimeters or the designation of access ways for both retrofit and new build projects. Available galvanised finished or powder coated.

• Easyguard Handrail system - permanent freestanding handrail.

• Easyguard II - clamp-on handrail system for modern standing seam roofs.

• Bespoke systems also available.

Uniline horizontal and vertical wire-based fall restraint and fall arrest lifeline systems.

Provides secure, hands-free access over high-level areas where solid barriers cannot be achieved.

Lifelines are waterproof, chemical resistant and available in orange, black or grey.

HANDRAILS LIFELINES WALKWAYS FALL GUARDS FLEXIDECK DEMARKATION LADDERS STEELWORK

Tel: 01487 841400

www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

44 Public Sector Build Journal